Police: Proposed Craigslist Deal Leads to Robbery on Christmas Eve

Three men were arrested by Duluth Police on Christmas Eve in connection with a robbery that occurred after a deal was reached on an item that was listed on Craigslist, according to police records.

Jimmy Shakeel Austin of Lithonia, Dequavious B. Reynolds of Ellenwood, and Kaelin Bernard Childs of Ellenwood were arrested on robbery charges by Duluth Police in connection with the incident.

The incident began when the robbery victim listed an Apple Macbook Pro laptop for $1,400 on Craigslist, according to the incident report. The victim corresponded with one of the suspects by text messages, and they agreed to a price. They arranged to meet in front of a Bank of America in Duluth, the report said.

The victim said that the suspect walked up to him and immediately snatched the laptop from the victim's hand, and the suspect ran toward the back of the nearby Aldi supermarket, police said.

The victim chased after the suspect, and was joined by an off-duty deputy. The victim told police that the suspect got into a blue vehicle occupied by two other black males, and left the scene. The victim produced for police a receipt for the laptop, which was purchased at Best Buy, according to the incident report.

At that time, a Duluth Police officer on patrol spotted the suspects' vehicle fleeing the scene, and gave chase. The officer also was given the suspect vehicle's license number by the deputy who gave chase.

However, the officer lost track of the vehicle, and was proceeding back to the robbery scene when he spotted a vehicle matching the suspects' vehicle description leaving Shorty Howell Park onto Pleasant Hill Road.

The three suspects were then apprehended at gunpoint without incident. A search of their vehicle turned up an Apple Macbook Pro laptop, as well as a bag of green, leafy substance with an odor of marijuana, police said.

The pursuing officer then returned to the robbery scene and interviewed the victim.

This information comes from Duluth Police. It does not indicate a conviction. Questions should be directed to duluth@patch.com.