Fugitive updates Facebook during standoff

OGDEN, Utah -- For Ogden, Utah police, it began when fugitive Jason Valdez was spotted by an officer.

“He has a long-standing violent and drug related history with us and, he's a very well known, long-standing gang member,” Watt said.

Police pursued and he locked himself in a motel room.

When police made contact with him on the phone, he stated, “I'm not going back to prison. I have a gun. I have a hostage,” which started a 15-hour standoff.

Police shut down his phone service, but they did not realize they could not block his data service. Several hours in, the situation took a strange twist.

“We were notified by someone on the outside that he was coming up on Facebook and that he was discussing the negotiations and police activity,” said Watt.

He updated his Facebook status six times.

"I'm currently in a stand-off... kinda ugly... I love you guys... if I don't make it out of here alive...I'm in a better place,” said Valdez.

At one point, he posted a picture of his hostage with a note, "Got a cute hostage, huh?"

Relatives and friends commented saying: "Keep your head up" and "Do the right thing."

But some tipped him off to police movements.

Fearing others might do more to help the alleged fugitive, police considered shutting down his page. They weren't sure they could.

Assistant Chief Randy Watt said they decided it was worthwhile to keep his page up and running.

“We were gaining more than we were losing by allowing the Facebook activity to continue,” he said.

Another comment stated: "End this peacefully."

But that didn't happen. Police eventually blew up the walls of the motel room.

Police said Valdez fired off two rounds before turning the gun on himself. He was hospitalized and in critical condition, but expected to survive. He will face charges when he recovers.

“He just didn't want this life. He didn't want to go back to prison,” said a family member.

“That dude is a good dude and he'll do anything for anybody, ok? And he helped me out a lot,” said one woman.

Police said social media could have made the situation much worse if Valdez's supporters descended on the scene.

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