Slidell police arrest two men accused of targeting gay men on dating app

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Slidell police arrested two men who they say targeted gay men on a dating app and then robbed and blackmailed them.

Emyni Hall, 20, and Griffin Batiste, 24, face charges including hate crimes, extortion, armed robbery and bank fraud.

Police say the two specifically targeted married men on the app Grindr who they thought would be more reluctant to come forward.

“They would find information on the victim’s family. They would then threaten that if they called police, that they would kill the family and the victim,” said Interim Chief Daniel Seuzeneau of the Slidell Police Department.

Police believe more victims will come forward.

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