Hammond Man Arrested After Facebook Meetup Turns Into Armed Robbery Attempt
A Hammond man is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly pulling a gun on a woman during a Facebook arranged meetup and attempting to rob her of her car and money on May 12, 2025.
According to police reports, the victim, a 23-year-old woman, told officers she arranged to meet 22-year-old Daryle Craig Anderson III near his residence in the 800 block of State Street in Hammond after chatting with him on Facebook. The woman drove to the location with her sister-in-law and parked near the residence. That’s when Anderson reportedly got into the back seat of her BMW and began acting erratically.
The woman said Anderson suddenly pulled out a handgun, pointed it at the back of her head, and demanded her vehicle, cash, and debit cards, shouting, “I’m going to take your vehicle, bitch.” She told police that Anderson stole $150 in cash and two debit cards. Before he could move into the driver’s seat, the woman quickly drove away, leaving him behind, and called 911 from a nearby Walgreens.
Officers from the Hammond Police Department quickly responded. According to to a report, Anderson was already known to officers and matched the victim’s description: a heavy-set Black male wearing a black puffy coat and dark jeans. When police arrived near Anderson’s residence around 11 p.m., they saw him exit through the back door of an apartment in the 800 block of State Street. Upon spotting officers, Anderson reportedly fled back inside. His mother later convinced him to surrender.
He was arrested without further incident and taken into custody on armed robbery and attempted auto theft charges, in addition to being wanted on two active arrest warrants from Lake County.
Detectives later obtained a search warrant for Anderson’s residence, where they recovered a firearm laser attachment and a live .45 caliber bullet. The woman had previously identified Anderson in a Facebook photo holding two Glock handguns, including one equipped with a laser sight, the same kind she claimed was used in the robbery.
The woman and her sister-in-law both told police that Anderson had acted suspiciously from the moment they arrived, noting his behavior and his choice to wear a heavy coat in warm weather. They also confirmed that Anderson had touched her inappropriately before escalating to threats with the firearm.
Daryle Craig Anderson III is now facing charges including:
Level 3 Felony Armed Robbery-Taking property by force or threatening use of force while armed
Level 6 Felony – Pointing a Firearm at Another,
Level 6 Felony – Auto Theft-Theft of entire motor vehicle.
Anderson was previously wanted for a September 2024 incident involving a police pursuit in a stolen car.
