PEORIA, Ill. — A man accused of robbing a citizen at gunpoint during a Facebook Marketplace dealing was taken Wednesday into Peoria Police custody.
Police have arrested 19-year-old Damarius Billups-Ward for armed robbery in conncection with the Jan. 22 incident.
Authorities said Billups-Ward told the seller of a cell phone he didn’t have a car, and therefore could not drive to the suggested business meeting location.
Billups-Ward and the seller instead met in the 2200 block of W. Albany, which is where the suspect allegedly flashed the gun, stole the phone, and took off.
The victim was not injured.
The Peoria Police Department remind the public the PPD lobby may be used as a meetup spot for all online transactions during normal business hours, 9 A.M. – 5 P.M. on weekdays.
On weekends, the station 2 parking lot at 2011 W. Altorfer may be used in the mornings from 6:45 – 7:00, afternoons from 2:45 – 3:00, and evenings 10:45 – 11:00.
