Hostage taker posts pics, updates on Facebook during standoff

Earlier this month, a woman allegedly tried to recruit a hitman to kill her former boyfriend by using Facebook. The 20-year-old woman, identified as London Eley, reportedly offered $1,000 to anyone who would be willing to kill her ex beau.

Man updates Facebook during police standoff
Now, a Utah man continued to update his Facebook page while holding a woman hostage for 16 hours.

According to multiple online tabloid reports, the 36-year-old Utah man held a woman hostage during hours-long standoff with police, but continued posting updates to his Facebook wall all through the confrontation.

The Ogden, Utah, Police Department says an armed man, identified as Jason Valdez, posted Facebook status updates from his phone while engaged in a 16-hour standoff with them over the weekend, according to a report from CNN.

Used smartphone to make updates
The Ogden, Utah, Police Department says an armed man, identified as Jason Valdez, posted Facebook status updates from his phone while engaged in a 16-hour standoff with them over the weekend, according to a report from CNN.

The New York Daily Times reports that Valdez locked himself and a woman in a room at the Western Colony Inn in Ogden when police tried to serve him with a warrant for a drug offense.

"He had a smartphone with him and he was making updates," said Ogden Police Lt. Danielle Croyle, the watch commander. "The officers on the scene were aware of it and they changed tactics accordingly."

Reportedly, Valdez issued six status updates, added 15 friends and responded to numerous comments posted by concerned family and friends while he was engaged in the standoff with the cops over the weekend.

"I'm currently in a stand off wit these shady [expletive] from old, kinda ugly but ready for whatever, I love u guyz and if I don't make it out of here alive that I'm in a better place and u were all great friends," Valdez wrote in his first post at 11:23 p.m. Friday via an Android phone.

Takes pics with hostage
At 4:04 a.m., he uploaded photos of himself and a woman with the caption, "Got a cute "HOSTAGE", huh?"

At 5:26 a.m., Valdez thanked friends for their support, saying: "Much love to u krazy fools too and I told u I was dumping on these [expletive] lol show u how them NORTENOS do it"

The Nortenos are a criminal street gang in California to which Valdez belongs, Croyle said.

A friend, meanwhile, posted a message to let the gunman know that a SWAT team member is hiding in the bushes outside the room.

"Gun ner in the bushes stay low," said the post, to which Valdez replied, "Thank you homie. Good looking out."

"It does cause concern because there were bystanders who knew him," Croyle said. "Our priority is the safety of the community, and safety is compromised when the location of officers is revealed."

Cops made unsuccessful attempts to negotiate with the armed man
The cops tried to negotiate with Valdez, but he missed several deadlines they set.

At 3:30 a.m., the armed man sent this post, "They shut down all power and our phones are dying but I'm keep letting u all know I'm okay til these foolz make some dumb [expletive] move! Told em ill come out WHEN IM READY!!!!"

Valdez's last post was at 7:25 a.m. Saturday: "Well i was lettin this girl go but these dumb bastards made an attempt to come in after i told them not to, so i popped off a couple more shots and now were startin all over again it seems...."

Gunman shot himself in the chest
Police said, an hour later, when SWAT officers broke through the wall from the adjoining room to arrest Valdez he shot himself in the chest. He remained hospitalized in critical but stable condition Wednesday.

Charges had not yet been filed as of Wednesday afternoon. Croyle said they could charge him of kidnapping and attempted homicide, and said police are discussing whether his Facebook friends should also face charges for trying to help him.

"Facebook can be a help, but it can also be a hindrance," Croyle said. "We just rolled with it."