Man Arrested for Robbery During Facebook Marketplace Meet-Up
A man in Chicago is facing robbery charges after allegedly mugging a victim during a Facebook Marketplace meet-up in a police station parking lot. Phillips Shockley, 24, agreed to purchase an Audemars Piguet watch for $3,000 from a 19-year-old seller through a Facebook listing. The incident took place in the Austin (15th) District police station parking lot on February 6.
Meeting at a police station or public place is often recommended for marketplace transactions to reduce the risk of scams. However, in this case, the safety of the location did not prevent the crime.
According to prosecutors, when the victim showed the watch to Shockley for inspection, Shockley suddenly took a fighting stance, reached into his pants as if he had a weapon, and pushed the victim before fleeing. The victim alerted nearby police officers, who quickly apprehended Shockley as he ran into the police station lobby.
During a search, officers found 42 small baggies of suspected crack cocaine in Shockley’s pocket. A further search in the district’s lockup cell revealed the stolen Audemars Piguet watch hidden in his underwear.
Judge Deidre Dyer granted the state’s detention petition for Shockley, citing the opportunistic and random nature of the alleged crime. Shockley was already on probation for a previous case in Will County at the time of the robbery. He now faces charges of robbery and possession of a controlled substance.
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