New Facebook page warns Tacoma residents to 'stop snitching'
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TACOMA, Wash. -- A new Facebook page dedicated to "outing snitches" is stirring controversy in Tacoma.
Police are keeping tabs on the page in case it sparks new rounds of retaliation or scares people from coming forward to speak out about crimes.
Investigators say it often takes an informant to solve the major cases involving gangs or organized crime. But thanks to a new Facebook page, the people who "snitch" on criminals will pay a price on social media.
The page is called Tacoma Snitches and it already has more than 6,800 likes. The site is filled with photos of so-called "snitches," or people who have cooperated with law enforcement.
Tacoma residents Alan Jackson and Ramon Rogers say some neighbors won't cooperate with criminal investigations because they don't trust the police.
"Why would I call the cops and report something's happening in my neighborhood when me and the people in my neighborhood can handle it ourselves, depending on what it is," Jackson said.
Some worry Tacoma Snitches will only reinforce the attitude that makes some people unwilling to help investigators.
"I don't really get involved with the police," said Rashid Jabbar. "I really have no reason to call them. I don't think I've ever called the police on nobody."
Police and prosecutors are monitoring the page and say everything there is already available through media reports and court documents.
"It appears to be public information -- mindless chatter -- but if it escalates to genuine threats, then we'd be looking to prosecute," said Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist.
The big concern is that people who appear on the site may become targets of retaliation, even though the information may not be accurate.
"Somebody could put somebody else's picture up on there just because they don't like them, and they trying to say something and get something started," Rogers said.
Lindquist said he and his team are watching to make sure that doesn't happen.
"If it escalates to a point where it's criminal, we absolutely will prosecute it, because we take the safety of our witnesses, and the integrity of the justice system very seriously," he said.
Site administrators at Tacoma Snitches didn't respond to a request for comment on the story.
Police are keeping tabs on the page in case it sparks new rounds of retaliation or scares people from coming forward to speak out about crimes.
Investigators say it often takes an informant to solve the major cases involving gangs or organized crime. But thanks to a new Facebook page, the people who "snitch" on criminals will pay a price on social media.
The page is called Tacoma Snitches and it already has more than 6,800 likes. The site is filled with photos of so-called "snitches," or people who have cooperated with law enforcement.
Tacoma residents Alan Jackson and Ramon Rogers say some neighbors won't cooperate with criminal investigations because they don't trust the police.
"Why would I call the cops and report something's happening in my neighborhood when me and the people in my neighborhood can handle it ourselves, depending on what it is," Jackson said.
Some worry Tacoma Snitches will only reinforce the attitude that makes some people unwilling to help investigators.
"I don't really get involved with the police," said Rashid Jabbar. "I really have no reason to call them. I don't think I've ever called the police on nobody."
Police and prosecutors are monitoring the page and say everything there is already available through media reports and court documents.
"It appears to be public information -- mindless chatter -- but if it escalates to genuine threats, then we'd be looking to prosecute," said Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist.
The big concern is that people who appear on the site may become targets of retaliation, even though the information may not be accurate.
"Somebody could put somebody else's picture up on there just because they don't like them, and they trying to say something and get something started," Rogers said.
Lindquist said he and his team are watching to make sure that doesn't happen.
"If it escalates to a point where it's criminal, we absolutely will prosecute it, because we take the safety of our witnesses, and the integrity of the justice system very seriously," he said.
Site administrators at Tacoma Snitches didn't respond to a request for comment on the story.
Closed my FB account over a year ago. At the time there was something about FB that creeped me out and still does much the same way Andrew Bush's comments on this page creep me out. In regards to his comment on this page about thinking twice before calling the police, I wonder who he'll call when chaos, lawlessness and evil knock on his door. Â
did the tacoma snitch site get taken down?
Well, it looks like that page is now gone.
I just put that i liked the page and i am being herassed by one of the snitches. So who is goona keep them from trying to harm us.
@Tina Michael You are really a pierce of ghetto libtard trash lol.....
Everyone that posted and raised hell about this should take some conscious credit. You probably saved some people some real harm.
LOL, maybe if one did the right thing, one wouldn't have to worry about snitches....what a concept. This is why America is so effed up.
 @Antaris Angel Exactly. How about a "Stop Thuggin'" page, showing all the faces, names, and last known locations of gang-members and their criminal histories?Â
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Don't want to have the law catch you? Don't be a traitorous punk criminal.Â
Get a job, learn to read and speak English, and be a real man.
So with 6800 likes then the gangster population of Tacoma must be around 6800. They'll all fit on Attu Island. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attu_Island
I'm guessing most of the likes are wanna-be's. I still think that each and every one who "liked" the site should be checked and investigated.Â
 @I Like Meat I'd double that estimate at least. 14,000? Or more...Â
A tiny nation of violent barbarians festering within...
 @TheTruncheon They'll still all fit on Attu fine although they might have to resort to cannibalism for food at some point but that's fine too.
I see the site is down now. Let's all keep tabs on it and make sure it doesn't come back! LOL
Anyone else want to join me in friending this stupid site and then fill it up with pictures of Hello Kitty, Archie and Jughead, puppies, kittens, happy couples sharing a picnic, Garfield, etc.?
That is an awesome idea! LMAO!!!!Â
Okay, there's still a personal account of the same name with the same material. Probably should flag that as well.
Can you put the link to it? I'll go flag it too.
 @The WA Mama No need. I was on my way, it's already gone too! :) Even gave them a link to this story!
Just checked. Looks like they took it down. Great job everybody!
Now if that same site were posting cop and prosecutor pics, it would be a crime, right? Just not other people. Chekk.
Who else thinks that the only reason the Pierce County Prosecutor hasn't taken the page down is so he can maybe scare his informants a little, gather power over them, and use this page to their advantage?
@Tattooed_Angel Nothing wrong with that.
'PEDO WATCH' FB page would be nice to have.One for every area. Currently you have to go out to a dB and go to your neighborhood and browse. What if that was captured on Facebook to make it easier - somebody kept it up to date and informed daily/weekly etc who just was released etc. Community involvement is good!
@alildifferent They have community notification for that. Leave that stuff to the professionals. The last thing we need is more people murdered because someone decides they need to play vigilante.
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If you are too lazy to go outside of Facebook to lookup information on the internet, they you really need to get off of Facebook.
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I guess on the positive side, this is a good way to figure out what neighborhoods you would not want to move to...
So how long until they post the collected works of William Shakespeare?
This Facebook page must be taken down immediately, of course; and the creators of this kind of traitorous anti-American tribalism must be found, punished, and re-educated as to their personal responsibilities to American institutions and society.Â
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