California's Murrieta Police Division (MPD) makes use of photographed LEGO heads to guard suspect identities in social media posts.
“Final week, officers participated in a #HideAndSeek recreation within the space of Madison Avenue and Murrieta Sizzling Springs Highway. Thankfully for the officers, they had been ready to make use of GPS to find the suspect,” one social media put up stated. “Finally, the suspect was arrested and booked into #ByrdHouse for grand theft, possession of stolen property and illegal possession of pepper spray as he was a convicted felon.”
One other put up learn, “Officers had been not too long ago dispatched to a report of a shoplifting that simply occurred within the space of Madison Avenue and Murrieta Sizzling Springs Highway. Officers had been flagged down and stated two males every stole a procuring cart filled with # ThatsALotOfStuff objects and left the shop with out paying.
“A file test on the 2 males revealed they had been each on #Probation for weapons costs and, you guessed it, #theft.” A search of the car turned up all of the stolen objects from the shop, narcotics, paraphernalia, housebreaking instruments and methamphetamine. Each males had been arrested and booked into #ByrdHouse on numerous costs.
The trouble comes as California handed a regulation barring regulation enforcement businesses from sharing photos of non-violent crime suspects.
MPD defined the transfer on Fb, writing: “Why the coated faces? On Jan. 1, a brand new regulation went into impact that restricts how and when regulation enforcement businesses in California share suspect images and pictures. The brand new regulation, Meeting Invoice 994 & Penal Code 13665, now prohibits regulation enforcement businesses from sharing suspect images from non-violent crimes until there are particular circumstances. Moreover, the brand new regulation requires businesses to take away suspicious footage from social media after 14 days, until particular circumstances come up.
“The Murrieta Police Division prides itself on being clear with the neighborhood, but in addition honors the rights and protections of everybody as afforded by regulation; even suspect. As a way to share what is going on in Murrieta, we determined to cowl the faces of the suspects to guard their identities whereas complying with the brand new regulation.”