Suspect accused of kidnapping, robbing South Florida man, stealing his dog

Vadol Reed lured victim to his apartment using dating app Grindr, police say

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – A South Florida man accused of kidnapping a man whom he met on a dating app, robbing him and stealing his dog has been arrested.

Vadol Reed, 22, of Boynton Beach, was arrested Wednesday on charges of armed robbery and kidnapping.

According to a Boynton Beach police report, the victim started communicating with Reed last week on Grindr. The victim said Reed invited him to come to his apartment Friday night to watch a movie and hang out.

The victim told police that Reed gave him directions to an apartment at 404 NE 10th Ave., led him inside and told him to sit on the bed. He said they were kissing when two masked men, one of whom was hiding in a closet, barged into the room.

The victim said one of the men was armed with a knife, and the other was armed with a metal pole. He said Reed pulled out a gun and pointed it at him, stealing his cellphone and debit card.

Reed and the men forced the victim outside and into his car, directing him to drive to his home while being held at knifepoint, he told police.

Reed and the men stole numerous items from the victim's home, including his dog, Coco, and then ordered him to take them back to the apartment, the victim told police. He said the crooks threatened to return to his home and kill him if he reported the incident to police.

After the victim spoke about the incident on a Facebook page for the LGBT community, he received a message from another man who claimed to be the victim of a similar incident at the same location. They decided to together call 911.

Detectives learned that Reed lived in the apartment, and the victim positively identified him from a photographic lineup.

Boynton Beach police spokeswoman Stephanie Slater said a second man was questioned by detectives and later released pending further investigation.

Slater said Coco was recovered and will be reunited with her owner.


About the Author:

Peter Burke returned for a second stint of duty at Local 10 News in February 2014.