Social media posts lead to identity of suspected poachers

PARKERSBURG, W.Va. — Police used to use the phrase, “You can’t outrun the old two-way” in reference to the radio communication which enabled officers to apprehend suspects quickly. However, the two-way radio has nothing on the speed and effectiveness of today’s social media.

Last week, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Police placed pictures of an apparent poaching incident on their Facebook page.  Officer John Casto who is administrator of the page hoped they would be able to identify the pair. The ploy worked.

“We had their names within an hour of posting it to Facebook,” said Casto. “We actually had the female calling our office within two hours.”

The pictures, shown above, were extremely graphic. Casto explained the original pictures, taken by the female suspect, were posted to the social media site SnapChat. Unlike other site, SnapChat posts disappear within ten seconds.  However, that isn’t the case if a recipient takes a screen shot of them.

“The person who had screen shot those photos posted them to another social media site,” he said. “Somebody saw those photos and sent them to us.”

It’s not the first time the DNR was able to use social media to rapidly solve a crime. In fact, it’s becoming one of their best weapons.  The posting of the poached deer and the two suspects received more than 400,000 views at the time of this report. The investigation continues, but so far no charges are filed.

“Through the investigation we think the deer was killed in Ohio,” said Casto. “So the Ohio DNR is now leading the investigation.”





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