Male escort dressed as woman arrested for robbery in Modesto

A man dressed as a woman was arrested at a Modesto hotel on suspicion of robbery Monday night after the man he met through an escort service website refused to pay.

Modesto police were called to the Best Western on West Orangeburg Avenue at about 11 p.m. when a witnesses reported seeing a woman chasing a man through the parking lot.

The victim flagged down officers and told them he’d met the suspect, 19-year-old Arianna Jimenez, on Craigslist and the two agreed to meet to have sexual relations, said Modesto police spokeswoman Heather Graves.

Officers later learned they’d met on an escort service website.

At some point after meeting Jimenez in the hotel room, the victim changed his mind about their arrangement and tried to leave.

“Arianna still wanted the money she was supposed to get so she blocked the door and locked the deadbolt,” Graves said.

The victim tried to escape through a window but the suspect attacked him. After a brief struggle, the victim was able to get to the door and get outside, with Jimenez in pursuit.

Graves said Jimenez caught up to the victim and allegedly punched and kicked him. This happened several times; the victim got away, but the suspect caught up and attacked him, Graves said.

During one of the attacks, the suspect took $150 in cash out of the victim’s pocket and returned to the hotel room.

After talking to the victim, officers went to the hotel room and talked to Jimenez, whom they learned is a man.

Jimenez, of San Jose, was arrested on suspicion of robbery and was booked at the downtown men’s jail.

This story was originally published April 22, 2015 at 7:19 PM with the headline "Male escort dressed as woman arrested for robbery in Modesto."