Charges Filed In Glastonbury Social Media Marketplace Armed Robbery

GLASTONBURY, CT — An East Hartford man has been charged in connection with a January armed robbery involving a social media marketplace transaction in Glastonbury. It is a case that prompted local police to re-emphasize the availability of "safe spaces" at the department.

Glastonbury police Tuesday served a warrant to 29-year-old Derrick Shelton for an armed hold-up that took place on Jan. 25 at the 2910 Main St. McDonald's. He was charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree reckless endangerment, first-degree threatening, fourth-degree larceny and risk of injury to a child, according to a warrant.

According to case records, Shelton agreed to purchase an iPhone via Facebook Marketplace, and during the transaction in the McDonald's parking lot, stole the phone at gunpoint before fleeing in a vehicle. Shelton was arraigned in court that day and failed to post a $250,000 bond. He is due back before a judge on June 6, judicial system records show.

Police said he was served the Glastonbury warrant in Manchester Superior Court because he is already in custody for other arrests. His name shows up on two other cases in the judicial system database, both for first-degree robbery out of New Britain and both with separate $250,000 bonds.

The case prompted Glastonbury police to embark on a campaign to promote "safe spaces" at the department for such transactions. The spaces are located in the north parking lot next to designed handicapped spaces. They were installed a few years ago when online and social media marketplace sales started to become more and more popular, police said.

Lt. Kevin Szydlo of the GPD said the spaces are well-lit and in range of perimeter cameras. The set-up acts as a deterrent for a hold-up, he said.

"A person who is thinking of doing something wrong will think differently if a resident suggests using the police department for a transaction," he said.