Poetic justice after burglar who taunted police on Facebook is captured

It’s not unusual these days for the police to make use of social media to help them in the fight against crime.

What is peculiar is for the criminals they are hunting for to respond via the net.

21-year-old Logan Hale of Polk County, Florida, was wanted for his alleged involvement in an armed burglary, so it’s no surprise that a mugshot of the fugitive was posted on the local sheriff’s Facebook page.

Under the name “Logan Finallyfree Hale”, the felon taunted police:

HELLO here I am…..

Deputies continue to look for me but Are frustrated that I am unable to be located….”

The official Facebook account of Polk County Sheriff’s Office had no qualms about engaging with the fugitive on Facebook, even cordially inviting him to take them up on their offer of a lift to the police station:

remaining ‘at large’ is only going to result in your having to change your FB name from ‘Finallyfree’ to ‘Back In Jail’ – it would be wise for you to turn yourself in to the nearest PCSO facility. Or give us a call – we’ll be happy to provide transportation. 863-298-6200.”

That last comment by the police managed to secure hundreds of likes from other Facebook users.

Clearly, Logan Hale hadn’t thought things through properly. The more he taunted the police on social media, the more news of his being a wanted man was likely to circulate, and increase the chances of him being caught. It won’t have done any harm that the police department also offered a $500 reward for information leading to Logan Hale’s arrest, and publicised an anonymous tip-off hotline.

We all know how this story is going to end, don’t we?

Yes, you guessed it. Logan Hale was caught.

Sheriff Grady Judd, who clearly has many strings to his bow, composed a poem in honour of the occasion:

Logan Hale, you are on your way to jail. Your attempts to hide were to no avail. Maybe you’ll make bail. Either way, your Facebook taunts were an ‘epic fail.’