Homeless man used flip-flop in attempted robbery

By Joe Johnson

Aaron Keith Preston was arrested early in the morning of November 23rd after he pretended a flip-flop was a weapon when attempting to rob someone.

The incident happened at about 1:45 a.m. at The Wingate hotel on North Avenue where Preston reportedly approached a guest who was outside smoking while on FaceTime with his girlfriend.

The 30-year-old homeless man was wearing a hoodie over his head and holding an object under it that was pointed towards the victim, but when it fell to the ground the victim saw it was only a flip-flop.

Even though Preston hadn’t used an actual weapon, the hotel guest from New Jersey told police that he felt threatened.

Police located Preston across the street from the hotel at the DFCS building and arrested him for simple assault and loitering and prowling.

He continued to be held at the county jail on Friday in lieu of $100 bail.