Skip to main content

Ohio man arrested over parody of police department’s Facebook page

facebook cops imitation page parma police
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but try telling that to the cops of Parma, Ohio.

After coming across a parody Facebook page mimicking its own site, police in the town decided to arrest its creator for “disrupting public services.”

Recommended Videos

Parma resident Anthony Novak launched the site earlier this month, filling it with content that the police department described as “derogatory” and “inflammatory.” Speaking to Cleveland.com, Lt. Kevin Riley said the material was presented in a way that suggested it was coming directly from department officials.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

The page, which has since been taken offline, closely mimicked the design of Parma cops’ Facebook page, and included fake news stories and information that the department said painted it in a bad light.

One note read: “Parma is an equal opportunity employer but is strongly encouraging minorities not to apply,” while another claimed Parma police would be offering “free abortions to teens” at a forthcoming fundraiser. You get the idea.

After finding the site, Parma PD put a notice on its own page, saying it wanted to “warn the public that a fake Parma Police Facebook page has been created.” It went on, “The public should disregard any and all information posted on the fake Facebook account. The individual(s) who created this fake account are not employed by the police department.”

The vast majority of the 450+ comments on Parma PD’s Facebook post lambast the cops’ response to Novak, suggesting the department’s been way too heavy-handed in its approach. One wrote, “You get Facebook to take down the page, sure. Arresting the man who put it up is tyrannical, full stop. Arresting someone who mocked you in public is the very essence of a free speech violation.” Another said simply, “Humorless robots, well done.”

It won’t come as a big surprise to learn that the department’s actions and the resulting publicity have led to the creation of a load more imitation sites (here, here, and here, for example) criticizing or poking fun at Parma police, though it’s hard to believe cops will be knocking on the creators’ doors anytime soon.

Novak, 27, made his first court appearance on Monday. A grand jury will ultimately decide if he’s to face trial for his alleged offense. If it goes all the way, he could face up to 18 months in prison.

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
How to get verified on Instagram Threads
A verified account on Instagram Threads.

Like Twitter and Instagram, Instagram Threads allows users to become verified to confirm their identities and access some exclusive features. Similar to Twitter's verification process, you'll need to pay a monthly fee to be verified on Threads, so keep that price in mind as you get your verified Threads account set up.

So, without further ado, here's how to get verified on Instagram Threads in a few straightforward steps.

Read more
How to remove location data from your iPhone photos
How to transfer photos from an iPhone to an iPhone

We all love making memories, and a great way to collect those memories is to take a quick snap of a gorgeous landscape, a party in full swing, or a particularly incredible meal. The Apple iPhone now also adds a location to your pictures, meaning it can collate those images together into a location-themed album, or show you all the shots you've taken in a specific location. It's a fun little addition, and it's one that adds a lot of personality to the Photos app.

Read more
‘Photoshopped’ royal photo causes a stir
The Princess of Wales with her children.

[UPDATE: In a message posted on social media on Monday morning, Princess Kate said that she herself edited the image, and apologized for the fuss that the picture had caused. “Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing," she wrote, adding, "I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused."]

Major press agencies have pulled a photo of the U.K.’s Princess of Wales and her children amid concerns that it has been digitally manipulated.

Read more