Police take ‘wanted’ posters onto social media, nabbing suspects and ruining lives

LOS ANGELES — The wanted poster on the Manhattan Beach Police Department’s Facebook and Instagram pages featuring Matthew Jacques was bad enough.

“Wanted Wednesday,” it blared in all capital letters over a mug shot of the Hermosa Beach bartender. “Turn yourself in.” And then, a warning to the public: “Do not attempt to apprehend or detain this person. Call 911 in case of emergency … ”

Then came the tweetstorm, a nasty barrage of online vitriol. “hewill be caught maybe he thinks his charge is nothing or doesn’t care,” wrote one commenter. Another identified the bar where Jacques worked and his regular shift and urged readers: “You can go get him there.”

But Jacques wasn’t a wanted man. There was no warrant out for his arrest on Feb. 26, 2020, when Manhattan Beach police posted the wanted sign, according to court documents. The 42-year-old had missed several remedial classes after pleading no contest to a 2017 DUI.

But he was no fugitive from the law.

The 21st century version of the Wild West wanted poster has become a social media staple for police departments across