Man Charged With Raping & Robbing Men He Met On Tinder

Authorities in Maryland are asking the public for additional victims to come forward after law enforcement officers arrested a suspect who police say raped and robbed several men after arranging to meet them on the dating app Tinder.

According to Prince George’s County Police, Rodney Richardson, 26, of Brandywine, faces multiple charges for two incidents, including kidnapping, rape, and armed robbery. Prince George County is a suburb of Washington, D.C.

Detectives claim that Richardson created a fake profile on Tinder to lure his victims. Richardson allegedly arranged to meet up with men, and he’d hold them up at gunpoint when they got together, Washington, D.C.’s NBC affiliate WRC reports.

According to investigators, on February 2, Richardson stole a man’s car, watch, and phone at gunpoint after arranging to meet with him on Tinder.

A bit more than a week later, on February 10, Richardson allegedly victimized another man after meeting with him on a dating app.

Before going to Richardson’s home, the victim met Richardson at a church and got into his car. When Richardson reached his house, he allegedly tied the victim’s hands, ordered him to lie in the trunk, and began raping him. The following day, Richardson allegedly forced the victim to drive to a bank, withdraw over $4,000, and hand the cash over.

Both victims identified Richardson in photos, according to police.

Richardson was arrested on Monday.

On Thursday, Prince George’s County Police representatives tweeted about his arrest.

“Sexual Assault Unit detectives identified and charged a Brandywine man with rape, kidnapping, handgun offenses, armed robbery, and multiple additional charges. He’s 26-year-old Rodney Richardson,” they wrote.

Grindr users in London were recently alerted to an alarming string of robberies associated with the hookup app. Four men were drugged and robbed between December 31 and January 9 by two men they met on Grindr, police officials said.

Anyone with information regarding Richardson is asked to contact the sexual assault unit detectives at (301) 772-4908. To remain anonymous, call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).