Texas Teen Arrested After Asking For Own Reward Money on Crime Stoppers

Tom Ozimek
9/27/2018
Updated:
9/27/2018

A teenager in Texas wanted on a felony charge was arrested after asking Crime Stoppers whether he was eligible to receive his own reward money.

Palmview Crime Stoppers posted a wanted poster of 19-year-old Brandon Diaz on its Facebook page, after which Diaz himself commented on the post, asking if he could get his own reward money.

“Ayy can I get my own reward,” Diaz posted.

The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office even weighed in, saying “We will see you very soon.”

Wanted theft suspect Brandon Diaz contributed to his own apprehension by posting a question on social media about his own reward. (Screenshot via Palmview Crime Stoppers Facebook)
Wanted theft suspect Brandon Diaz contributed to his own apprehension by posting a question on social media about his own reward. (Screenshot via Palmview Crime Stoppers Facebook)
Officers arrested Diaz nearly a week after his helpful post. He faces a single count of theft, a felony punishable by jail in the state of Texas, according to KGBT-TV.

After the arrest, Palmview Crime Stoppers once again took to their Facebook page on Wednesday, Sept. 26, and posted a picture of Diaz in the back of a police unit.

“Arrested, Thank You Citizens of Hidalgo County,” Palmview Crime Stoppers captioned the image, which shows a handcuffed and frowning Diaz, who appears to have the word “LOCO” tattooed above his knee.

“Talk about humiliation,” commented Facebook user Evan Claudi Kendon.

Netizen self-identified as Veronica Fuentes asked why Palmview Crime Stoppers were thanking the public since it appeared that Diaz himself was the one who made his arrest possible.

“Why are you all thanking the citizens when he basically turned himself in ?” asked Fuentes.

The person running the Palmview Crime Stoppers social media account replied that Diaz did not turn himself in, and that his arrest was possible only thanks to the assistance of the public.

“He didn’t turn himself in, with the help of the citizens we were able to get to him,” Crime Stoppers replied.

“So he didn’t go on your post and comment and ask for a reward? What I’m saying is he’s a moron not that he literally turned himself in,” Fuentes retorted.

A Facebook user self-identified as Cipi Arevalo Sycl asked about the status of the reward.

“So the question is, are guys gonna give him the reward money”

Diaz is accused of stealing about $3,000 worth of jewelry from a family member, according to KGBT-TV, citing a criminal complaint.

The suspected thief was booked into the Hidalgo County jail on Tuesday, Sept. 25, on a $40,000 bond, the station reported.

Tom Ozimek is a senior reporter for The Epoch Times. He has a broad background in journalism, deposit insurance, marketing and communications, and adult education.
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