An Unusual Facebook Exchange Between a Wanted Man and Police
Typically, a wanted poster serves as a straightforward alert for law enforcement to apprehend a suspect. However, in late November 2018, this conventional tool transformed into an unexpected week-long flirtation on social media. The story revolves around Anthony Akers, a 38-year-old resident of Washington state, who chose not to evade authorities but instead engaged them in a public dialogue that captivated online audiences.
The Initial Police Post and Akers' Response
The exchange commenced on November 28, 2018, when the Richland Police Department published a routine Facebook notice as part of their "Wanted Wednesday" series. The post stated, "Wanted Wednesday! Anthony Akers (38) is wanted by the Department of Corrections for Failure to Comply. If you have any information please call 509-628-0333." According to police records, Akers had initially been charged with possession of a controlled substance and was now sought for violating his probation terms.
In a surprising twist, Akers himself emerged among the first commentators on the post. He wrote, "Calm down, im going to turn myself in," setting the stage for an unconventional interaction. Instead of closing the thread, the police department responded days later with their operating hours and a gentle prompt: "Hey Anthony! We haven't seen you yet." When Akers failed to appear, officers followed up with an offer of assistance, suggesting he could call the non-emergency line for a ride if needed.
A Series of Delays and Public Engagement
Akers remained engaged in the conversation, explaining that he was "tying up a couple of loose ends since I will probably be in there for a month" and promising to surrender within 48 hours. As this deadline passed without action, public curiosity grew in the comments section. One user inquired, "Has he turned himself in," to which the police simply replied, "He has not."
This prompted another apology from Akers, who fully embraced the playful tone of the exchange. He wrote, "I apologize for standing you up. I will be there no later then lunchtime tomorrow, I know you have no reason to believe me after what i did to you, but I promise that if i dont make it on my own by lunchtime tomorrow I will call for a ride to assist me with my commitment issues." Yet again, lunchtime arrived and departed without his appearance.
The Police's Disappointed Message and Final Surrender
The Richland Police Department then posted a message that resembled a disappointed text more than an arrest notice. It read, "Morose Monday. Dear Anthony, is it us? ... We waited, but you didn't show. ... The weekend came and went. We are beginning to think you are not coming. Please call us anytime and we will come to you."
Nearly a week after the original post, Akers finally fulfilled his promise. Before entering the police station, he shared a selfie outside the building with the caption, "Here for our date sweetheart." Shortly after, he confirmed in the comments, "Pushing the button, yes a bit later then planned but here and going in. Thank you RPD for letting me do this on my own. See you in a month."
Police Reaction and Aftermath
Cerise Peck, a crime prevention specialist with the Richland Police Department, later told NBC News that this episode was unprecedented. She noted, "Sometimes we will see folks tag the wanted person in our post but we don't ever get the wanted person replying." Ultimately, Akers was taken into custody without any incident, concluding a unique case where a wanted notice evolved into a public conversation filled with delays, deflections, and dark humor, all culminating at the police station door as intended.
