Police: Facebook Apology Leads To Sexual Assault Arrest
By: KARK 4 News
Updated: May 10, 2012
Fayetteville police say a Facebook message is the key reason why they
were able close out a sexual assault case. Investigators say without
this Facebook apology - they would not have even known what happened.
"This was a unique situation," said Fayetteville Police Sgt. Craig Stout. According to a police report, Mario Thompson babysat a Fayetteville woman's children from 2005 to 2008. This week, police say the woman reported a disturbing Facebook message from Thompson.
"Through social media Thompson essentially apologized for an incident that occurred several years prior," said Stout. According to police - that incident was sexual assault of the woman's child - whom investigators believe was between 5 and 7 years old at the time.
We wanted to get Thompson's side of the story. So we went to his last known address in Fayetteville Thursday, and were confronted. A man identifying himself as Mario Thompson's brother can be seen on camera reaching into our news car in an attempt to grab our camera.
Thompson is then shown on video standing in front of our photographer in an attempt to block our view of the home. While this investigation is still ongoing, Sgt Craig Stout says learning about crimes through Facebook is not rare.
But.. in this situation, he says it is different because the suspect apologized for his crimes. "On the gentleman's behalf, even all these years later, he is now taking responsibility for his actions," said Stout.
"This was a unique situation," said Fayetteville Police Sgt. Craig Stout. According to a police report, Mario Thompson babysat a Fayetteville woman's children from 2005 to 2008. This week, police say the woman reported a disturbing Facebook message from Thompson.
"Through social media Thompson essentially apologized for an incident that occurred several years prior," said Stout. According to police - that incident was sexual assault of the woman's child - whom investigators believe was between 5 and 7 years old at the time.
We wanted to get Thompson's side of the story. So we went to his last known address in Fayetteville Thursday, and were confronted. A man identifying himself as Mario Thompson's brother can be seen on camera reaching into our news car in an attempt to grab our camera.
Thompson is then shown on video standing in front of our photographer in an attempt to block our view of the home. While this investigation is still ongoing, Sgt Craig Stout says learning about crimes through Facebook is not rare.
But.. in this situation, he says it is different because the suspect apologized for his crimes. "On the gentleman's behalf, even all these years later, he is now taking responsibility for his actions," said Stout.
