Georgia: social media joke turns into an arrest

Police were able to use a Facebook user’s joke to put him behind bars. He had two active warrants for violating probation.

A social media prank ended up turning into an arrest for Georgia’s Christopher Spaulding. Last Monday, the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office published a list of the 10 most wanted fugitives on its Facebook account. It was then that Spaulding decided to intervene.

"How about me" he wrote in the comments. Although Spaulding was not one of the county's most wanted fugitives, the man had two felony probation violation warrants for his arrest.

So the police responded to the comment, "You are correct you have two warrants, we're on our way."

The Rockdale County Sheriff's Office fugitive unit found Spaulding and arrested him.

The police thank Spaulding

Police shared on Facebook a post thanking the Fugitive Unit "for being active and efficiently apprehending Mr. Spaulding."

"We appreciate your assistance in your capture! … Our Top 10 is compiled based off of the severity of the charges only," the sheriff's office wrote Thursday. "By not being on this list [sic.] does not mean our Fugitive Unit is not looking for you if you have an active warrant."