If you’re a criminal, it might be tempting to “like” your own “Most Wanted” poster when it pops up on your Facebook timeline — it might be a really flattering mug shot, after all. However, doing so apparently got one Montana man arrested on felony charges.
According to a May 5 NDTV article, police arrested Levi Charles Reardon, 23, after he clicked “like” on his own “Most Wanted” image on the Cascade County Crimestoppers Facebook page.
Reardon, who police suspect stole a wallet and personal checks, had been featured as one of Cascade County’s “most wanted” suspects for April, with two warrants out for his arrest.
Cascade County police arrested him without incident on felony charges of forgery, and court records reveal he fraudulently cashed four of the stolen checks. Reardon cashed one of the checks at a grocery store after a law enforcement officer had already contacted him about the missing wallet.
The Crimestoppers Facebook page noted the baffling “like” on its most wanted post and captured it in a screenshot. Reardon made his first court appearance on Monday, April 27, on a $2,500 warrant; he was later arraigned on May 7.
Facebook’s influence on public behavior is undeniable; about 47% of Americans report that Facebook influences their purchasing choices more than any other social media site. Who knew it could have an equally profound impact on law enforcement, as well?
Since his arrest, Reardon has evidently “unliked” the post.
