So, on July 31st, 2026, officers responded to a disturbance at Walmart after a private group confronted a man over an online interaction. >> texting >> And then they say I'm here for And I'm not. >> So, I'm confused. Like, so you guys were texting? Like, you How do you know each Like, how How do you know each other? >> We met on an app. >> Okay. >> And that was it. >> Okay. >> And then they say I'm here for girl. What app was it? Uh Meet >> Meet me? Okay. Um can you show me the conversation? Is that all right? I deleted it. You deleted everything? Okay. >> Because I can't I blocked it I after they harassed me. >> Yeah. Okay. Do you want to talk to them and see if they have more for you and we'll hang out for a minute and try and get this sorted. You got an ID with you, boss man? >> Yeah, an Uber. >> Okay. Yeah, well, we're going to have to wait on that. Yeah, we'll have to wait on that. Probably try and sort this all out, okay? >> Yeah. >> any knives or firearms on you at all? Okay. Did you Uber here? >> They paid for They paid >> They paid for your Uber here? >> Yeah. 85, 90 bucks. >> Where are you coming from? >> Chicago. >> Oh, okay. Thank you, sir. I'll see you soon. That's 142 and ID card. >> 142 >> 65207682144, Amari. Um how long have you been talking to this person on the on the Hangout app? I'm going to hang out here for a minute. Uh how long have you been talking to this person on the MeetMe app? >> Just one day. >> One day? Like, yesterday or just today? >> Today. >> Today? Um I guess I just don't understand is like MeetMe app is like a hookup thing or is it like Tinder? Or is it like similar to a Tinder? >> Yeah. >> Okay. And so, what was the conversation like? >> Uh well, she wanted to meet up and I didn't. >> Who did you think it was? Like, what was her name or whatever? I don't know. Doesn't tell you the name on the MeetMe or no? >> A r i a >> Aria? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Aria. And you just met What time did you start talking? Like, in the morning or last night? >> In the morning. >> Okay. In the morning. >> Um there was no pictures, there was no nothing. >> Is it just like a pro like a blank profile? No. Like, how did it did it go? Tell me. Like I'm trying to learn more. >> Like whatever you talked Like tell me. Like you can I know it's like uncomfy to talk about, but it is what it is, right? We're here. >> We talked and tapped. We were texting each other and that was it. >> What was the conversation? >> She wanted to be with an older guy. >> She wanted to be with an older guy. Did she at all tell you how old she was? >> Not until later. >> How later? >> Until I was on the way. >> Till you were on the way here already. Okay. So prior to you prior to them Ubering you, you had no idea other than this individual with a blank profile wanted to be with an older guy. >> Yes. >> And how Like you never asked how old they were? >> No, I never do. Why would you? >> Well, I mean I mean if there's like I guess if it were me, right? And there it's just a blank profile picture. >> No, she had a profile picture. >> Oh, she did? And what did it look like? Did you Are you deleted everything? You deleted everything? >> No, I haven't. >> Oh, you have it? It was She was older? >> Yeah. She looked to be in her 30s. >> Really? What's it on for? >> No, she deleted it. >> They deleted it? >> Yep. >> Okay. I'll see. And so what So they Ubered you out here? What Like how did the conversation go? She said she wanted to be with an older guy. Like was you having to talk all day? Was it like if you could guess how many messages roughly? Like 50 messages? 100 messages? >> Like 50. >> 50 messages from like this morning until they Ubered you out here? >> Yeah. >> Okay. So then while you were in the Uber, like they said they were going to send a new Uber. How did that work out? >> Well, the Uber sucks, but >> Okay. >> Uh it's an hour away. >> Yeah. So other than that, no, we didn't talk. >> So but how did like you guys come to the conclusion that you were going to meet here? Or they >> She called me. >> She called you on the phone? >> Yeah. >> Okay. You spoke to somebody on the phone? >> Yeah, her. >> Okay. Who's When you say her? >> This girl. >> But you don't have any picture of it? All right. And that was the real cell phone. That's outside of the app. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So everything in the app is gone. >> Yeah. >> Um so she called prior to sending you an Uber. I don't I'm trying to understand. I'm sorry I'm asking you these questions cuz like it just seems like there's so many gaps that I can't I'm trying to figure out a timeline of how this how we ended up here. >> She called me. >> At what time roughly? >> She called me at at >> I see. >> 4 >> 4:39, 4:42, 4:46, 4:54. Okay, so just prior to 5:00 and then how was that phone call? What was that like? >> It was fine. >> What what was the conversation? >> She said you'll be on the way. I got you a car. >> Okay. Um what was the plan to like go back to her place, get a hotel? So what was the plan? You were going to go see a movie? >> Okay. >> Cuz like obviously they probably have the messages on their phone, right? >> Yeah, it's fine. >> Yeah, so they you the plan was to meet here and then go see a movie. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> I walked in there. >> Okay. Was there talk of any sex or anything? >> No. >> Okay. >> God, no. >> Okay. So it's kind of like more of a date. >> Yes. >> Okay. And you didn't ask about any age, but the picture on the profile to you looked like they were in their 30s. Okay, starting to make a little more sense. So then she called you just prior to 5:00 and said, "All right, I'll see you soon. I'm sending you an Uber." >> Yes. >> like, "All right, >> Yep. >> I'm coming." Um then what happens when you get here? >> They harassed me. >> Like in the store outs like in the movie store? They like were you walking around looking to meet somebody? >> She said she was in the area. >> In like a What like what do you mean in the area? >> The restaurant area. Well, the first the TV area and then the seating area. >> Okay. >> But then I asked for a restroom. Cuz she said she had to go to the restroom. >> Yeah. >> But I really had to go to the restroom cuz it now worked out that way. Yeah. But no. Other than that, that was it. >> But so then you find them in there and then they just >> They came up to No, they came up to me. >> Oh, while you were just walking around, they found you? >> Yeah. >> Did you at all send a picture of them or just or of you to them or like to Ari or how do they know then it was you? >> They had a picture. >> Oh, from the app? >> Yep. >> Okay. So they kind of knew who they were looking for. And then then what happened when they came up to you? >> They started harassing me. Saying I'm They started yelling at me. They wanted to talk to me. The guy was wearing like a Batman suit. >> Okay. >> He had the entire chest protection on and everything else. >> Okay. Did they like put their hands on you at all? >> No, god no. >> And you didn't put your hands on them at all? >> No, god no. >> Okay. So, they started like kind of yelling at you and then you just like left the store or >> Yes. >> Okay. >> And then everybody else started harassing me outside. >> Yeah. Well, cuz I mean if they're yelling at you. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, of course. Okay. >> I'm not here for that. >> No, that's what we're going to try and get sorted out and I'm sorry that you know made a big scene. Hopefully we can get this all sorted out and it all makes better sense for everybody here. You know. But you got to I got to remind you, right? Like there's three sides to a story, you know. There's your side, there's going to be their side. The truth will probably be somewhere in the middle. >> Yep. >> Um Unfortunately, you deleted all the messages, right? Or deleted the conversation or the and they did, but I mean if they had any >> didn't. >> Yeah, cuz they did you delete it? Like when they started yelling at you or what? >> Why? >> Because I I don't want to deal with that. >> But like what what would Like if you didn't think you were doing anything wrong, why delete messages? >> Because they're threatening me. About my job, about everything else in the world. >> Yeah. But like what was in the messages that like would make >> Just my picture. >> Just a picture? Oh, did you send like a private picture? >> No, my face. >> So, you deleted the whole conversation cuz you sent a picture of your face? >> Yeah. >> But why would like a picture of your face lose your job? Like I mean like if the context of the chat was and I mean even if it was somewhat adult in nature, right? That's not there's nothing illegal about having an adult conversation with another adult, right? But >> I didn't tell them all. I just >> You didn't want it out there. >> I I delete I delete me. I've been on the app so many times. >> Yeah. >> Go ask for money. >> Oh, I bet. >> All the time. >> Oh, yeah. A lot of fishing kind of stuff. Yeah. So, what what made this one seem legitimate then? >> I trusted her. >> Okay. >> Cuz she called me. >> Um have you been like scammed or catfished on there before? Okay. So, it it it's it is what it is. But no, I would not be with traveling to meet her. like that. >> No, I would if they're paying for an Uber to come out to go see a movie, that's fine. >> I guess that's why I'm just kind of like puzzled as to why why delete everything if >> All >> all the conversation was like to hey, like we're going to Uber you out. We're going to go see a movie, you know. >> If I'm I'm paying for it, I will. >> This was the text messages, not on the app, right? >> No, this is text messages. >> Were you Okay. Do you want to just scroll all the way to the top? When did you start texting her like off the app? Most of the day? Like was Did you get the phone number off the app pretty quick or no? >> No, she gave it to me real fast. >> Really? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Okay. >> I'm going to say it's okay. >> You can keep scrolling. I can read pretty quick, too. So, I'll tell you if you need me to stop. Scroll down. Okay, that was the picture she sent of herself? >> Yeah. >> Back up Yeah, go back to the messages for up just a little bit. >> Uh her Okay, she Okay. >> Scroll down. Send you a picture, okay. Yep. You sent a picture. Go down Go up again. Go up again. Go up again. Okay. Just scroll a little bit. Cute Yeah, blah blah blah. Thank you. Mhm. Oh, okay. So, I just saw it. You said it how old are you? You said She said >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, now we Now it makes more sense, right? Okay. So, you see there's a problem with that. >> I'm not there to meet somebody. >> Right. But so Brian, right? >> Yes. >> Level with me here, right? She sent She sent you a picture. And she >> She you a picture of somebody and then she asks how old you are. >> Careful. >> And or she had said that she's wants to hook up with 30 or 40 and you ask how old she is. She said she's >> You showed me it and I didn't want to meet her. >> What business what business you got coming out here to do that? >> I did not want to meet with her and I didn't meet with her. I did nothing wrong. >> Sweeten your journey right now? Okay. >> No, no, no, why? >> No, why? Fine. >> I did nothing wrong. >> What's in your pocket? >> Nothing. Cigarettes. >> Cigarettes? >> And my wallet. I did nothing wrong. >> Just the wallet, nothing going to poke me, right? >> No. >> No keys, nothing like that? >> Yeah. >> No, you're good. >> I did nothing wrong. I did nothing wrong. I did nothing I did nothing wrong. You really are cleaning me. >> No, you're getting the cuffs. >> For the investigation. >> This isn't my car. If you want me to transport, my car's over here. We're going to go to that squad car right there. >> You can pay this off. >> No. >> Have fun in jail. >> Morning. Yeah, I'm >> Right. >> Need help? >> Yeah, can you take them off? >> No, absolutely not. >> I did nothing wrong. >> Just the wallet, right? >> We'll talk about them a little bit, all right? We're going to be done talking for right now. >> The man was charged with two felonies in order to remain in custody after being denied pre-trial release. The case is still pending.