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| Fugitive's deal with police: I'll surrender if my wanted poster gets 15,000 likes | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A Connecticut police department has reached a deal with a fugitive that would have him surrender if enough people respond to a wanted poster on social media, an agreement that at least one expert calls unethical. | A Connecticut police department has reached a deal with a fugitive that would have him surrender if enough people respond to a wanted poster on social media, an agreement that at least one expert calls unethical. |
| Jose Simms, 29, who is believed to be somewhere in New York, has seven arrest warrants and is being sought as a fugitive after failing to appear in court on charges that range from breach of peace to risk of injury to a child. | Jose Simms, 29, who is believed to be somewhere in New York, has seven arrest warrants and is being sought as a fugitive after failing to appear in court on charges that range from breach of peace to risk of injury to a child. |
| Lt Brett Johnson of the Torrington police posted on the department’s Facebook page on Wednesday that Simms had contacted him through the social media site and agreed to turn himself in if the post containing his poster got 15,000 likes. | Lt Brett Johnson of the Torrington police posted on the department’s Facebook page on Wednesday that Simms had contacted him through the social media site and agreed to turn himself in if the post containing his poster got 15,000 likes. |
| Johnson said he negotiated Simms down from 20,000 likes. | Johnson said he negotiated Simms down from 20,000 likes. |
| “It will be difficult but is doable,” Johnson wrote. | “It will be difficult but is doable,” Johnson wrote. |
| He also suggested that if anyone knows where Simms is hiding, they could let police know and save the department some suspense. | He also suggested that if anyone knows where Simms is hiding, they could let police know and save the department some suspense. |
| Facebook urged to tackle spread of fake profiles used by US police | Facebook urged to tackle spread of fake profiles used by US police |
| But Maki Haberfeld, an expert in police ethics and procedure at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said Simms is using social media to manipulate both the news media and police, who she said have no business negotiating a deal with a suspect, never mind one that involves likes on Facebook. | But Maki Haberfeld, an expert in police ethics and procedure at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said Simms is using social media to manipulate both the news media and police, who she said have no business negotiating a deal with a suspect, never mind one that involves likes on Facebook. |
| “It turns this into a joke,” she said. “People will start looking at these various violations of law as a game.” | “It turns this into a joke,” she said. “People will start looking at these various violations of law as a game.” |
| Simms, contacted by the Associated Press through Facebook, said he is serious about the offer. | Simms, contacted by the Associated Press through Facebook, said he is serious about the offer. |
| “I wanted to give them a little incentive for all the hard work they put in to catch me,” he wrote. | “I wanted to give them a little incentive for all the hard work they put in to catch me,” he wrote. |
| Simms said the charges stemmed from domestic problems and he is tired of running from authorities. | Simms said the charges stemmed from domestic problems and he is tired of running from authorities. |
| “Looking over your shoulder every five seconds can cause a lot of stress,” he wrote. | “Looking over your shoulder every five seconds can cause a lot of stress,” he wrote. |
| Torrington police did not immediately respond to a request for further comment. | Torrington police did not immediately respond to a request for further comment. |
| Simms said he was prepared to live up to his end of the agreement, insisting he was a “man of my word”. | Simms said he was prepared to live up to his end of the agreement, insisting he was a “man of my word”. |
| Haberfield said Simms was clearly getting a lot of attention, and that is exactly what he wants. | Haberfield said Simms was clearly getting a lot of attention, and that is exactly what he wants. |
| “This is 100% manipulation,” she said. “And for police, it’s not an ethical thing to do.” | “This is 100% manipulation,” she said. “And for police, it’s not an ethical thing to do.” |
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