by Phil Trexler

Beacon Journal staff writer

Medina police have found Facebook.com the perfect place to revisit old friends they haven't seen in a while.

The department is using the popular Internet social network to seek out suspects wanted on warrants.

Officers this week became ''friends'' with their first suspect, nabbing a man wanted on an old warrant for drug charges. Medina police believe they are the first in Ohio, if not the country, to use Facebook to catch fugitives.

''Thirty years ago, we posted wanted fliers at the post office; today it's Facebook,'' police Chief Patrick Berarducci said. ''I'm shocked at how fast this first arrest came in.''

Medina police opened their Facebook page Oct. 24. Included on the site are pages of photos of people wanted for an assortment of crimes.

Officer Sara Lynn, who was tapped last month to head the department's outstanding-warrant bureau, crafted the idea. She approached Berarducci with the novel concept.

''And I fell for it,'' he joked.

Medina police also are using the site to alert residents of safety tips as well as crimes that occurred in the city. The site offers links to police reports and arrests from the regular Web site.

Police have used the site to release surveillance photos of suspects caught in the act.

Also listed are more than 800 friends of the department, many of whom offered their congratulations to police for their unique listing of wanted men and women.

''More cities should do this,'' a page visitor wrote.

In two weeks, the department received a tip through Facebook that led them to Lucas Damien Stewart of Medina, who was wanted on drug abuse and possession charges.

A person who saw Stewart's mug on Facebook called the department Sunday and pointed officers to a home on North Broadway Street, where Stewart was found and arrested. He was wanted for an offense committed Nov. 4.

Stewart, 27, is being held in the Medina County Jail awaiting a court appearance.

There are more than 130 names and photos of suspects listed under the department's Facebook photo link. Some have warrants dating to the late 1990s for all sorts of crimes, from drunken driving to domestic violence.

A fugitive's name, charges and date of warrant are listed when the cursor is placed on a photograph.

Police ask that the public contact them at 330-725-7777 to offer tips. They don't recommend that residents try to make the apprehension. They say all callers will remain anonymous.

''The reaction has been outstanding,'' Berarducci said. ''Everywhere we go in town, people are commenting on it. They think it's a great way to use the technology.''

The department is using the popular Internet social network to seek out suspects wanted on warrants.

Officers this week became ''friends'' with their first suspect, nabbing a man wanted on an old warrant for drug charges. Medina police believe they are the first in Ohio, if not the country, to use Facebook to catch fugitives.

''Thirty years ago, we posted wanted fliers at the post office; today it's Facebook,'' police Chief Patrick Berarducci said. ''I'm shocked at how fast this first arrest came in.''

Medina police opened their Facebook page Oct. 24. Included on the site are pages of photos of people wanted for an assortment of crimes.

Officer Sara Lynn, who was tapped last month to head the department's outstanding-warrant bureau, crafted the idea. She approached Berarducci with the novel concept.

''And I fell for it,'' he joked.

Medina police also are using the site to alert residents of safety tips as well as crimes that occurred in the city. The site offers links to police reports and arrests from the regular Web site.

Police have used the site to release surveillance photos of suspects caught in the act.

Also listed are more than 800 friends of the department, many of whom offered their congratulations to police for their unique listing of wanted men and women.

''More cities should do this,'' a page visitor wrote.

In two weeks, the department received a tip through Facebook that led them to Lucas Damien Stewart of Medina, who was wanted on drug abuse and possession charges.

A person who saw Stewart's mug on Facebook called the department Sunday and pointed officers to a home on North Broadway Street, where Stewart was found and arrested. He was wanted for an offense committed Nov. 4.

Stewart, 27, is being held in the Medina County Jail awaiting a court appearance.

There are more than 130 names and photos of suspects listed under the department's Facebook photo link. Some have warrants dating to the late 1990s for all sorts of crimes, from drunken driving to domestic violence.

A fugitive's name, charges and date of warrant are listed when the cursor is placed on a photograph.

Police ask that the public contact them at 330-725-7777 to offer tips. They don't recommend that residents try to make the apprehension. They say all callers will remain anonymous.

''The reaction has been outstanding,'' Berarducci said. ''Everywhere we go in town, people are commenting on it. They think it's a great way to use the technology.'

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The Facebook link

http://www.facebook.com/MedinaPolice

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