Pair of black lips: Unique facial tattoo gets 18-year-old Waukesha man busted for armed robbery

WAUKESHA COUNTY (WITI) -- An 18-year-old Waukesha man has been charged in connection with an armed robbery after his unique facial tattoo helped to identify him as the suspect.

Ryan Carroll

Ryan Carroll is charged with armed robbery as party to a crime and misdemeanor bail jumping.

On January 15th, Waukesha police were called out to the 200 block of Hinman Avenue for a report of an armed robbery. They met with a man who stated that two males, wearing scarves over their faces, approached him and displayed a gun. They then requested the man's phone and wallet.

The man told police one of the men calmly asked for his phone and wallet and he replied by saying "come on, really?" That's when the man says the other suspect pulled out a gun and pointed it at him. The victim told police he informed the suspects that his phone was in his van, and that's when one of the suspects started to pat him down. As the suspect patted the victim down, the suspect's scarf fell to just below his nose, at which time the victim was able to see a dark-colored oval shape on his upper right cheek -- an object that looked like a pair of lips.

An investigator knew of a suspect that recently had a pair of black lips tattooed on his right cheek. That suspect was identified as Ryan Carroll.

Investigators spoke with Carroll, who told them people can easily identify him by the tattoo of lips on his face, and that he was considering having it removed. Carroll was questioned about the armed robbery on Hinman Avenue, and informed police that he was at a friend's house on Hinman Avenue at the time of the crime. He denied any involvement in the armed robbery, according to the criminal complaint.

The complaint indicates investigators observed Carroll's cell phone wallpaper was a photo of Carroll standing with a male Carroll identified as "Jimmy." Carroll and "Jimmy" are seen in the photo displaying hand gestures simulating a gang. Carroll told investigators "it was none of their business" when asked whether he is in a gang.

At the time of the armed robbery for which Carroll is now criminally charged, he was out on $750 signature bond in a case in which he's charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct. He was ordered to commit no further criminal offense.

Carroll has a total of four open cases filed this year in Waukesha County.

In addition to the case charging him with disorderly conduct and this armed robbery case, Carroll is charged with possession with intent to deliver THC and possession of drug paraphernalia in one case, and four counts of manufacturing/delivering THC, and maintaining a drug trafficking place in another case.

Ryan Carroll will be in court in the armed robbery case on March 25th.