Pokémon Go is taking the mobile world by storm. People of all ages have downloaded the App and are arguably addicted to chasing down and catching as many Pokémon as they can. The idea of the game is pretty harmless: Catch ‘em all. But in the first week of the game’s success, quite a few horror stories have emerged.
If you thought you had a bad day today, check out what happened to these innocent people on their quest for Pokémon.
1. Pokémon Go Leads Teenager to Dead Body
When Shayla Wiggings, a nineteen-year old girl from Wyoming, made her way down to the Big Wind River, she was searching for a Pokémon that had appeared on her phone. Instead, she found a dead body. Startled and shocked, Wiggings called 911 immediately and alerted police to the body’s location in the Big Wind River beneath the Wyoming Highway 789 Bridge. The body has not yet been identified, but police are investigating the cause of death as possibly an accidental drowning.
Original story: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/teenager-...
2. Man Gets Stabbed Playing Pokémon Go and Keeps Playing
Like most kids who grew up playing the old-school version of Pokémon, 21-year-old Michael Baker was unbelievably excited to find out that with the help of the augmented reality app, he could really catch his own Pokémon. He was so excited, in fact, that he was determined not to let anything stop him: not even getting stabbed. While playing the game and walking down the street in search of Pokémon at 1am, Baker came across another man who was also using his cellphone. When he asked the man if he too was playing the game, the unidentified suspect responded by pulling a knife and stabbing Baker. Intent on continuing his search for Pokémon, Baker did not go to the hospital right away and instead told reporters he “continued my mission to Plaid Pantry for my mission for chips and beer” (KPTV). He later decided to get some medical attention to his shoulder wound and received eight stitches. The suspect has not yet been identified.
Original story: http://www.kptv.com/story/32421880/forest-grove-ma...
3. Two Marines Help Catch Attempted Murder Suspect
It started off just like any other Pokémon-catching day. Seth Ortega and Javier Soch, two Marine Veterans, were chasing down a virtual character when they happened to (fortunately) look up from their phones and notice a suspicious man in the park. The two Marines thought the man was making a woman and her three children uncomfortable and approached him. Upon their questioning, the man stated that he was looking for a homeless shelter or cigarettes, to which the Marines suggested he respect the people in the park and leave them alone. The man did not leave the park and began to linger around a different woman and her two children, where the Marines then saw him touch one of the child’s chests without the mother noticing. When the woman and her children walked into a nearby playground, the man followed them and again began to touch the child, this time grabbing his leg and moving his hand upwards. When the Marines called police, 39-year-old Jacob Kells was arrested on the intial charge of suspicion of child annoyance. After Kells was arrested, it was later discovered that “authorities in Monterey County have a warrant for his arrest on charges including attempted murder, possession of a stolen vehicle, and assaulting a police officer” (LA Times). Kells is now in jail, awaiting his prosecution. The Marines are not planning to let this incident deter them from the game. Soch was quoted in the LA Times as saying, “The best thing I can say: Remind yourself that you are not in the phone playing the game” (LA Times).
Original story: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-pokemo...
4. Girlfriend Catches Boyfriend Cheating Through Pokémon Game
Evan Scribner was able to catch a Pokémon, but he lost his girlfriend in the process. After cheating on his girlfriend while rendezvousing with an ex at the ex-girlfriend's house, Scribner decided to open the Pokémon Go app and search for one of the virtual creatures. The game uses GPS features and the camera to make it seem as though there are Pokémon in real life and because of these location features, the app is able to identify where each Pokémon was captured. When he later spent time with his then-current girlfriend, she was able to open the app on his phone and determine that he had caught one of his latest Pokémon at the location of his ex’s house. Scribner said he has not heard from his love since she discovered the Pokémon and his cheating ways. Was the catch worth it?
Original story: http://nypost.com/2016/07/12/woman-uses-pokemon-go...
5. Armed Robbery Suspects Used Pokémon Go to Lure Victims
Multiple people have found themselves the victims of armed robberies while out searching for Pokémon. After responding to a report of armed robbery in St. Charles County, Missouri, police located four suspects inside a parked vehicle and later recovered a handgun. The four suspects are now facing charges of first-degree robbery as well as armed criminal action. It is believed that the suspects were able to attract unsuspecting gamers to their location by activating a Lure at the Pokéstop, which lures more Pokémon to the location, and thus, more players. People walked right into the trap and the suspects were able to steal a wallet and a phone from their victims.
Original story: http://www.kmov.com/story/32410689/4-suspects-cond...
