Facebook Friend Request Spat Leads to Arrest

Rachel Anne Hayes allegedly slapped 72-year-old woman who denied request.

ByABC News
December 19, 2014, 9:15 AM

— -- A spat over a Facebook friend request in Florida resulted in a 72-year-old woman being slapped and another woman being arrested, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities say Rachel Anne Hayes, 27, became upset when the alleged victim refused to accept her friend request on Facebook because she felt the name Hayes was using was "inappropriate."

"The victim told Hayes she would be willing to accept the request if she would change the name," the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said in a news release.

Hayes left the home where the two were arguing and returned a short time later, according to authorities, at which point she allegedly continued the argument at the front door.

Authorities said Hayes slapped the alleged victim "several times" before she was able to retreat inside the home and lock the door.

Hayes was booked into the Pinellas County Jail on Thursday afternoon on suspicion of felony aggravated battery on an elderly person. She has been released on $10,000 bond.

She has not yet entered a plea and it was unclear whether Hayes had hired an attorney.

The Facebook name that allegedly set the argument in action was not released by authorities. However, Facebook has a well-known policy of requiring users to use the name they identify with in real life.

"Asking everyone to use their real name grounds the community in reality and ties it back to all the real-world relationships that we have," Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said at a town hall earlier this month.