Westside Jacksonville Home Invasion Suspect Nabbed Thanks to Tips from Facebook

July 20, 2011 by admin
Filed under Choosing Lingerie

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A suspect in a home invasion robbery is in jail, thanks to Facebook.

Lauri-Ellen Smith, spokesperson for the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said, “It was a slam dunk.”

JSO put the information about two home invasion robberies on its Facebook page Thursday, and started to receive tips. Later Thursday night, Travis Overton was arrested on suspicion of a home invasion robbery in the 7000 block of Impala Lane.

“Our public information officer happened to check our page last night, saw that, and as is always the case as we get these tips or leads, forwarded it on to the detective and an arrest was made,” Smith said.

In addition to connecting with more than 10,000 JSO Facebook followers, the sheriff’s office is also in sync with First Coast Crimestoppers, to offer tipsters a chance to remain anonymous.

Wyllie Hodges, spokesperson for Crimestoppers, said he believes the technology is making an impact in catching criminals. ”It works, there’s millions of people on Facebook, and most of them on there like to talk.”

JSO has since removed the tips that led to the arrest, because this is an active investigation, but Smith said social networking sites are enhancing the way police fight crime.

“Technology is very important obviously. The sheriff has an expectation that the staff will deploy technology efficiently, effectively. “

First Coast News