It’s a new world:

An armed Valdez, 36, held a woman hostage at a motel in a tense 16-hour, overnight standoff with SWAT teams, all while finding time to keep his family and friends updated on Facebook.

[…]

In all, Valdez made six posts and added at least a dozen new friends.

His family and friends responded with 100 comments. Some people offered words of support, and others pleaded for him to “do the right thing.”

[…]

“I’m currently in a standoff … kinda ugly, but ready for whatever,” Valdez wrote in his first post at 11.23pm “I love u guyz and if I don’t make it out of here alive that I’m in a better place and u were all great friends.”

[…]

At 2.04am, Valdez posted two pictures of himself and the woman. “Got a cute ‘Hostage’ huh,” Valdez wrote of the photographs.

At 3.48am, one of Valdez’ friends posted that police had a “gunner in the bushes stay low.” Valdez thanked him in a reply.

[…]

Police believe that responses from Valdez’s friend gave him an advantage.

Authorities are now discussing whether some of Valdez’ friends should be arrested and charged with obstruction of justice for hampering a police investigation. “We’re not sure yet how to deal with it,” said Croyle.