Jadaruis Menifee
Jadaruis Menifee and Demonta Pickett have been arrested after they were identified as being involved in the armed robbery of victims who had been selling items through the Letgo app.
Police said there were three such robberies in the past week.
Menifee, 19, of 119 St. Marks Ave., is charged with aggravated robbery and theft over $2,500. Pickett, also 19, is charged with two counts of aggravated robbery.
Two men said they were robbed at The Cookout on Brainerd Road on Saturday. They said they had been trying to sell an Xbox using the popular app. They got in contact with a man who identified himself as Scooter Dillians.
The men said "Scooter" initially wanted to meet at Walgreens on Rossville Boulevard, but changed it to the 119 S. Marks Ave. address. One of the men said he drove by the house, but it seemed shady so he kept driving.
He said they then agreed to meet at The Cookout. He said a red vehicle drove up and two black males got out. They walked over and asked about the Xbox. He said when he pulled out the Xbox that the men from the red car pulled guns and demanded all they had.
One of the men with the Xbox said he then pulled out his own handgun, causing the pair to flee.
Police said they associated the St. Marks address with Menifee.
Meanwhile, the next day, there was a similar incident. A man using the Letgo app said he had been contacted by a Scooter Dillians. He said a man he later identified as Menifee met him off Highway 58. But he said Menifee "was acting shady and said there were too many cops in the area."
He said he decided not to do any business with Menifee.
Police said, "As a crime prevention measure, CPD reminds community members that the department has designated space in front of the Police Service Center at 3410 Amnicola Highway as a Safe Exchange Zone. The purpose of the CPD Safe Exchange Zone is to protect Chattanooga community members while swapping, trading, buying/selling items or during child custody exchanges. The designated location has several video cameras which record 24/7 to ensure a safe transaction. Anyone wanting to make a transaction does not need to check in at CPD, but should park in the designated Safe Exchange Zone area to complete their business.
"Even though there's a designated area with cameras at the CPD, we still recommend meeting to make exchanges during daylight hours, telling a friend or family member where you're going, and remember if a deal seems too good to be true, it's probably a scam."
Demonta Pickett