Woman preps for blind date by faking hostage situation

PORTLAND, Ore. - An Oregon woman is accused of lying to a man - who she was about to meet on a blind date - that she was being held hostage and her captor was demanding money, reports CBS affiliate KOIN.

Perhaps that's not the best way to start a new relationship?

Lawrencia Crandford-Taylor, 23, of Portland, texted a man she was supposed to go on a blind date with, telling him a gun was being held to her head and she would be killed if he did not deliver $200. The man then called police, according to the probable cause affidavit.

By reading the text messages exchanged between the man and Taylor, Officer Chase Bryson learned that the money transfer was to take place in a Walgreens in Portland, says KOIN.

That's where he showed up, and found Crandford-Taylor, deputy district attorney Dennis Shen wrote in the affidavit.

"She was alone and appeared to be in good health and did not look afraid at all," Shen wrote as he summarized the officer's report.

Bryson confronted Crandford-Taylor who he says initially lied, saying she was waiting at the convenience store for a date. The officer's report said the woman's story kept changing.

According to KOIN, Bryson found more texts from Crandford-Taylor urging the man not to call the police.

The 23-year-old appeared in Multnomah County Circuit Court Monday and was arraigned on charges of attempted theft by extortion and attempted second-degree theft, the station reported.

A court appointed attorney entered a not guilty plea on her behalf Monday.

She is expected back in court July 18, KOIN reports.