Connecticut fugitive’s deal to surrender: 15,000 likes on wanted poster

Torrington Police Lt. Brett Johnson is Facebook users “like” the wanted poster of Jose Simms, who has seven failure to appear arrest warrants. If the post gets 15,000 likes, the 29-year-old Simms promised he would turn himself in. less Torrington Police Lt. Brett Johnson is Facebook users “like” the wanted poster of Jose Simms, who has seven failure to appear arrest warrants. If the post gets 15,000 likes, the 29-year-old Simms promised ... more Photo: Torrnington Police Photo Photo: Torrnington Police Photo Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Connecticut fugitive’s deal to surrender: 15,000 likes on wanted poster 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

TORRINGTON — A local police lieutenant is using a unique social media tactic to get a wanted man to turn himself in.

Lt. Brett Johnson who is one of the officers who mans the department’s Facebook page, is asking users of the social media platform to “like” the wanted poster of Jose Simms, who has seven failure to appear arrest warrants.

If the post gets 15,000 likes, the 29-year-old Simms promised he would turn himself in.

“We have no idea where this guy is other than we think he’s in New York,” Johnson said. “This gives us an opportunity to extend our reach.”

Simms contacted Johnson via Facebook Messenger last week asking when his wanted poster would be placed on Facebook.

“He knew he missed court and that he has warrants,” Johnson said. “We started posting wanted people on Facebook and he wanted to know when he was going to be put up there.”

As part of the conversation, Simms said he would turn himself in if the post received 20,000 “likes,” Johnson said.

The lieutenant came back with 10,000 likes and the two finally negotiated 15,000 likes, Johnson said. Simms’ wanted poster along with one for Kristopher Waananen, who has outstanding motor vehicle and failure-to-appear warrants, were posted early Wednesday with a catchy comment that included a reference to the television show “The Office.”

Johnson said Simms wanted 15,000 likes and asked readers to share Simms’ poster on other social media platforms, including Twitter and Snapchat.

There have been a few people who were apprehensive about the post, Johnson said. But overall people seem to be enjoying the situation.

“We haven’t done anything like this before but I know it’s been used in other places around the country,” Johnson said.

As of 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, the post had garnered 15,027 “likes.”

Anyone who spots Simms or Waananen or has information on their whereabouts is asked to call Torrington police at 860-489-2007.