NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Metro police detectives are warning the public to be mindful of who they communicate with via social media or mobile dating apps after a recent string of robberies in the Nashville community.
Metro Police spokeswoman, Kris Mumford said there have been four separate robbery victims in the Hillside Avenue area recently. One victim told police he was robbed after arranging to meet a man who was using the profile "420Plug" through the dating app “Jack’d.” Mumford said, "marijuana use was also reportedly discussed between the victim and man."
Jack'd is a dating mobile app generally used by gay men in the LGBTQ community.
Lt. Peter Dusche with Midtown Hills Precinct said the four incidents caused undercover detectives to get involved and put an end to the ongoing crime.
"We'll take steps to investigate any crime and reduce any sort of victimization that we need to. We are here to work with victims of crime and work with the public in general," he said.
According to a police report, detectives arranged a meeting with two suspects who were using the profile "420Plug." An officer inquired with the suspects if they had marijuana for sale as the profile indicated. The suspects told the officer they would sell a "zip" (one ounce) of marijuana for $240 and agreed to meet at Hillside Avenue in Edgehill.
Before the meeting, detectives had set up surveillance in the area and watched the two male suspects arrive. When detectives attempted to approach both men, police said Ronald Jamuel Malone started running towards an alleyway near Edgehill Avenue and Hillside Avenue. Malone was seen brandishing a handgun and then allegedly threw it into a dumpster. He was later apprehended and the handgun that was seized had a green laser on it. Mumford said the pistol was reported stolen out of Clarksville.
The second suspect, Javon D. Fields, was detained without incident. Detectives discovered a plastic bag containing lawn grass on Fields. Detectives also called the phone number that was given to them via the Jack'd conversation and a phone began ringing from Fields' clothes. Both Fields and Malone were arrested on Dec. 11. Both men also admitted to police that they were not gay. It's unclear if all four robbery victims were gay.
Both Fields and Malone were charged with selling, delivering, or distributing a counterfeit controlled substance which is a class E Felony. Malone was also charged with a theft of property for using the stolen pistol.
