What started as a Facebook Marketplace meetup over pricey designer sneakers in Marietta ended with one man in jail and another bruised after being dragged by a moving car, according to police.
Investigators say the deal went sideways when the buyer, identified by Marietta police as Dontae Hall, took off in his vehicle with the seller still hanging on. Hall allegedly drove away with the victim partially inside or clinging to the car, then later crashed at his apartment complex, according to WSB-TV.
The arrest warrant, cited by WSB, states that Hall first asked for a refund during the transaction, then grabbed the sneakers and sped off while the seller tried to hold on. Police told the station the shoes were Louis Vuitton and estimated their value at about $3,500.
Marietta Police Offer A Safe Trade Station
In the wake of cases like this, Marietta police are again pointing residents to a safer option for face-to-face online transactions. The department designates the front parking lot of its station as a “Safe Trade Station,” which the city notes is under video surveillance 24 hours a day. The lobby is also available for exchanges.
City information explains that the Safe Trade Station is intended for buyers and sellers who connect through online marketplaces and want a neutral, monitored place to meet. The notice links to national SafeTrade guidelines and lists a contact in the department’s public information office for anyone with questions about using the site.
Arrest, Charges And Custody
Hall is currently being held at the Cobb County jail without bond, according to Marietta police. He faces charges that include attempted kidnapping and aggravated assault, as reported by WSB-TV.
The county’s detention site lists the Cobb County Adult Detention Center as the facility that handles bookings and custody for arrests in the area.
Marketplace Meetups Have Become A Target
Police say this is not an isolated fluke. Similar scams and robberies tied to online marketplace meetups have led to undercover operations and stern warnings across Cobb County. In some cases, local officers have posed as sellers to catch would-be robbers in the act, according to FOX 5 Atlanta.
A 2024 incident in Marietta also started with a Marketplace exchange and ended in a high-profile crash and arrests in the area, an episode covered in detail in a report on the resulting Marietta school bus crash.
How To Trade Safely
City officials say residents can lower their risk by choosing police department parking lots or other public, well-lit locations with cameras for in-person exchanges instead of meeting at homes or secluded spots. The Marietta Police Department’s public guidance recommends verifying payments and any refund receipts on the spot before handing over goods.
If a trip to the police station is not practical, officers suggest picking a busy location with visible surveillance and making sure someone else knows where and when the meetup is happening. The bottom line from law enforcement is simple: treat every online sale like cash, and do it where the cameras are rolling.
