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Wanted man posted Ice Bucket Challenge on Facebook, police say

Police in Nebraska receive a tip on the location where a man -- who allegedly violated parole -- poured ice on himself.

Chris Matyszczyk
2 min read

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Facebook can be transparently public. JeremyShaferOrigami/YouTube screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET

Facebook is a dangerous place.

It teases you into believing that it's your own little digital living room. It's actually the town square, adorned with vast cameras and microphones.

This is something that seems to have been discovered by Jesean Morris.

Despite in the past being convicted for two felonies -- involving assault and firearms -- Morris may or may not have a charitable streak.

Police said, however, that he decided to participate in the Ice Bucket Challenge in support of the ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) Foundation. Many are doing it. Almost everyone other than Samsung seems to have purely altruistic motives.

However, Morris allegedly wanted the world to see him dousing himself in ice water. As the Smoking Gun reported, police in Nebraska said his video was spotted by, who knows, a "friend."

This person may have known that Morris was the subject of a felony warrant for absconding from his "discretionary parole."

The spotter -- or snitch, depending on your loyalties -- allegedly recognized the location where Morris had doused himself and informed the police. A police spokesman told the Omaha World-Herald that they were given "a specific house."

The police kept a watch on that address and last Friday arrested Morris during a traffic stop. Police said he initially gave a false name. It may not help Morris' case that he is also now accused of spitting at a police officer and damaging a police vehicle.

Long is now the list of fugitives who have been caught out by announcing themselves on Facebook. Some choose to taunt the police there, (mistakenly) confident that they will never be caught.

In Morris's case, it may be that he never imagined what would occur. It certainly is the case, however, that the minute you appear on Facebook, you never know who might be watching.