CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Clarksville police are urging the public to use caution after three men became victims of multiple crimes while meeting up with online dates.
In all three incidents, the men started communicating with a woman through social media or an online dating site and agreed to meet in person. In each case, a meeting place was agreed upon by both parties.
Police said a 20-year-old man was robbed and assaulted, resulting in a black eye, a dislocated left arm, and a loss of property.
The next victim, a 26-year-old Nashville man, was robbed at gunpoint, forced into a vehicle, and then dropped off close to where he was originally held at gunpoint.
The last victim was a 20-year-old Kentucky man who had been communicating online for a couple of weeks with a woman before they set up a meeting place. However, the meeting place was changed by the woman because it was ‘too hot with police presence’.
After the Kentucky man arrived at the new location, a man approached his car, displayed a firearm, and opened the driver door. The Kentucky man immediately placed his vehicle in gear to leave the area and heard the discharge of a firearm as he fled.
Clarksville police are currently investigating the robberies, kidnapping, and aggravated assaults associated with these three cases.
“We wanted to make the public aware of the dangerous situations which have occurred while using social media or online dating sites,” Public Information Officer Jim Knoll said. “Take time to exercise good judgment and caution.”