Crime & Safety

Man Who Robbed Craigslist Drug Dealer to Stand Trial

The drug-deal-gone-bad took place at a Redwood City Burger King.

A man who agreed to buy marijuana from a dealer on Craigslist but then robbed him at gunpoint in December of 2011 will soon stand trial in Redwood City.

Thirty-six-year-old Frank Vern Dryden of Hayward reportedly saw an ad on Craigslist.org from a man who said he would sell marijuana to anyone with a medical marijuana card.

Though Dryden apparently did not possess a medical marijuana card, he replied to the man's listing and arranged to purchase marijuana from him. The two parties agreed to meet in the parking lot of a Redwood City Burger King restaurant.

Find out what's happening in Redwood City-Woodsidewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The day of their scheduled meet, Dryden reportedly was too intoxicated from a day of drinking to drive himself to the Burger King, so he asked a friend to drive him, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office.

When the seller showed up, Dryden got into the backseat of his car to carry out the sale.

Find out what's happening in Redwood City-Woodsidewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

However, when the seller asked to see his medical marijuana card, Dryden reportedly whipped out a .38 revolver and attempted to rob him.

The seller wasn't going out so easily, apparently. He reportedly shouted back at Dryden that he "wasn't going to be robbed." A struggle ensued, and Dryden reportedly fired four shots at him, hitting him in the arms.

At that point, the friend who had driven Dryden to the Burger King got out of the car to flee, and Dryden fired at him as well, hitting him in the buttocks. Then, Dryden fled.

At first, the injured seller ran into the Burger King to ask for help. He then fled home to hide his marijuana, according to the DA's Office.

Later, the seller returned to the Burger King to give a statement to Redwood City Police, whom the Burger King employees had called. The victims admitted the details of the Craigslist marijuana sale to the police.

The DA's Office said the Redwood City Police were able to track Dryden through cellphone records of his phone conversations with the marijuana seller, and he was arrested.

Dryden appeared in San Mateo County Court in Redwood City this week, where he was scheduled to stand trial beginning April 29. He remains in custody without bail.

Also on RedwoodCity-Woodside Patch:

  • The Billionaires Among Us
  • Illegal Mattress Dumping Plagues Peninsula
  • Caltrain Strikes Empty Car on San Bruno Tracks
  • Redwood City-Based Evernote's Customer Accounts Hacked
  • City Wants Feedback on Downtown Precise Plan

Stay informed on the latest crime, news and events in your local neighborhood - follow Patch!

Sign up for Redwood City-Woodside Patch’s daily newsletter
"Like” us on Facebook
"Follow” us on Twitter

Want to share your opinions with the communities of Redwood City and Woodside? Start your own blog here.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.