Two people connected through a popular dating platform. One of them reportedly disliked the other, but the exact motive remains unclear—whether it was personal enmity or retaliation—after an incident in which the first individual damaged the other person’s car. This information emerged after authorities in Elche detained a suspect linked to the event, who faces charges related to assaults, theft, and threats.
The notable event unfolded on the first Sunday of the year, January 7, when a municipal patrol was dispatched to Novelda Boulevard in response to a report of a confrontation between two neighborhood residents. Upon arrival, only one person remained to describe what happened. He asserted that the two had met through a dating site and had planned to meet for a private encounter. The witness claimed that during the exchange, the other party reacted with hostility, shifting to a menacing tone and making threats. He allegedly said he would take the complainant home, drug him, and kill him, demanding the taxi fare be paid or else the assailant would destroy the car.
There was a note of a scratched car involved in the incident, and the complainant complied with the aggressor by handing over his money, about six euros. The assailant, however, was not satisfied and retrieved a key from his jacket pocket, scratching the vehicle’s side and repeatedly striking the car’s rearview mirror before leaving the scene. The officers gathered the complainant’s account and reviewed a photograph of the alleged aggressor from a local directory used by authorities, which helped identify the suspect. The authorities also cited prior interactions between the two men, indicating a pattern of prior disturbances. This helped the patrol trace the suspect to his residence and verify the account.
When the 39-year-old suspect arrived at the scene, he claimed there had been a misunderstanding and that he had become highly stressed. Based on the information provided by the other party, he was detained and handed over to police authorities for further processing. The incident underscores a broader trend linked to increasing dating-app encounters, which, in some cases, are followed by tense confrontations and unusual public behavior in outdoor settings. The case was documented as an assault linked to a coercive demand and property damage, with the investigation continuing as officers collect additional statements and review any related incidents noted in the suspect’s history. [Counsel: local police records].