Cops: Date for out-of-towner goes very awry
After assault, robbery suspect forced victim to local watering hole.
A CONFERENCE attendee from out of town was sexually assaulted, robbed and forced to go to the Irish Pub by a man he met on a social-networking app on Tuesday, according to police.
The 34-year-old out-of-towner connected with the man using GRINDR, which bills itself as a "free gay iPhone App" that uses GPS to help men "find local gay, bi and curious guys for dating or friends."
According to police, the victim, who was staying at the Hilton Home2 Suites on Arch Street near 12th in Center City, invited the man to his hotel room. Once inside, the assailant claimed he had a gun, sexually assaulted the victim and then made him withdraw a total of $1,000 from five local ATMs, police said. On top of that, he forced the victim to purchase four Visa gift cards, each in $500 increments, investigators said.
Then, in a bizarre move, the man forced the victim to go to the Irish Pub at 20th and Walnut streets, police said. It was there that the victim was able to run away and contact police.
The attacker is described as a 20-year-old black man with wavy hair and star tattoos on the back of his right hand. He is about 5 feet 11 inches, according to police.
Tipsters are asked to contact the Special Victims Unit at 215-685-3253, -3254 or -3263.
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