'Hit That Like Button': Fugitive Will Turn Himself In To Connecticut Police For Facebook Likes

The last 10 years have highlighted the true power of social media, with movements and marketing all being built on platforms like Twitter and Instagram. But that power has been taken a unique turn with a new campaign centered on a wanted fugitive.

Jose Simms, 29, is currently wanted by police in Torrington, Connecticut, after failing to appear in court for charges that range from risk of injury to a child to breach of peace. It is believed that he is hiding out somewhere in New York, though it has not been confirmed.

After failing to appear, the Torrington Police Department posted Simms' wanted poster on its Facebook page on Wednesday.

According to Torrington Police Lt. Brett Johnson, Simms reached out to the police department after seeing the post. Simms and the police then struck a deal that Simms would turn himself in if the post reached 15,000 likes.

The post had reached 22,000 like by Thursday morning. However, Simms still hadn’t turned himself in.

“It turns this into a joke,” criminal justice expert Maki Haberfeld told CBS News of the stunt. She further elaborated that Simms is simply using social media to manipulate news and police. “People will start looking at these various violations of law as a game.”

However, Simms maintains that he intends to honor the deal. He told the media that the charges stemmed from domestic issues and that he’s done running from police.

Still, Haberfeld says the situation is “not an ethical thing” for police to do or continue to do, given the attention Simms has received.