Teen accused of robbing man his sister met on dating app

Published 12:32 pm Wednesday, November 27, 2019

SALISBURY — A Salisbury teenager faces felony robbery charges after a college student was robbed and beaten after agreeing to meet a woman on a dating app, according to the Salisbury Police Department.

Roeman Dupri Collins, 16, of the 900 block of East Lafayette Street, remains in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $2,000 secured bond.

A week ago, the victim told police that two men wearing blue bandanas punched him in the face and one of them went through his pockets. The men took his Louis Vuitton belt, a NASA brand flight jacket, his North Carolina ID card, his college ID, a dorm room key and an iPhone X, according to police.

An officer saw two people near an apartment complex who matched the description of the suspects and took off running. A police K-9 unit searched the area but did not locate anyone.

The incident occurred Nov. 21 when the victim met a woman on a dating app. Police Lt. Greg Beam said during a follow-up interview with the victim, investigators learned he intended to meet the woman to smoke marijuana and engage in sex. The victim told police the girl’s younger brother accompanied her “for safety,” but on the way to their residence, a black man walked up to the victim and punched him.

The woman took the victim’s cellphone and her brother, later identified as Roeman Collins, stood over the victim as a second man punched the victim, according to the report. The victim’s sister was able to pull up the woman’s dating app profile, and an officer who patrols the East Lafayette area recognized the woman and her brother.

Police created a photo lineup and the victim identified the sister and brother. The sister has not been arrested, but the investigation continues and more arrests are expected, Beam said.