Wanted Fugitive Updates Relationship Status, Receives Advice From Friends on Facebook
- Posted on April 9, 2012 at 7:40pm by
Liz Klimas
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Travis Nicolaysen (Photo: Peninsula Daily News)
SEATTLE (AP) — He’s on the lam, but Travis A. Nicolaysen still had time to update his Facebook page.
The 26-year-old has eluded authorities since two foot chases Wednesday and a dragnet that included a police dog tracking him through a Port Angeles neighborhood.
The dog came up only with a blue bandanna he had been wearing.
His first day on the run, one friend posted to his account: “Cops all over you.” Nicolaysen responded the next day with: “ya got away thanks bro.”
A post from another friend told him to be careful. Another urged him to surrender and set a better example for his children. “You‘re not getting any younger and you’re looking at a lot of time,” the friend writes. A picture on the Facebook page shows Nicolaysen with two toddlers.
Nicolaysen has been convicted of five felonies, including domestic violence, burglary and theft of a firearm, police said. He is wanted by the Washington state Department of Corrections for failing to check in with his community corrections officer since January.
He’s also accused of assaulting his girlfriend on March 28, police said.
Better make that his ex-girlfriend. In a post Saturday, Nicolaysen changed his relationship status to single, the Peninsula Daily News reported.
Police are among those checking the page. “Absolutely,” Deputy Chief Brian Smith told The Associated Press on Monday.
“We’re used to pinging databases and sources of information,” he said. “It’s normal for us to look at Facebook accounts.”
Smith also saw the growing number of comments on Nicolaysen’s account — some of them mocking police — as he remained at large Monday.
“I don‘t think it’s going to make it any easier for him,” Smith said.
A lot of people communicate openly and can remain beyond the long arm of the law, at least for a while, he said.
Here are some of the “cleaner” posts:
Facebook tells its users that it may share certain information if it gets requests from law enforcement, and that it does have some ability to track people via IP addresses and GPS location.
Serving Facebook with a search warrant is a possibility, but there are no immediate plans for that, Smith said. For now, police hope the publicity alone may be enough to flush him out in a city the size of Port Angeles, population 19,000, on the Olympic Peninsula about 65 miles northwest of Seattle.
“In a smaller community, it’s harder to disappear and be anonymous,” Smith said. “We’re hoping people who know him call police.”
“People are giving him advice” to surrender, Smith said, “and he might want to follow it.”
While police find the fugitive Facebook posting a little frustrating, it’s a source of glee for Teri Newell of Port Angeles who says she helped raise Nicolaysen and describes herself as his aunt.
“I think it’s hilarious,” said Newell, who confirmed the Facebook account belonged to Nicolaysen.
“That’s my boy, Travis,” she said.
“Every single time he gets out of jail, he doesn’t check in,” said Newell, who also complains that police are heavy-handed.
She said she doesn’t know where he is.
“If he’s smart, he’s hidden away, tucked away safe,” she said.
Port Angeles attorney Robert Vienneau, who says he knows Nicolaysen, says the fugitive does what he has to do to get by.
“Travis comes from a rough background, but he’s got a good heart,” Vienneau said.
An email to Nicolaysen from The Associated Press bounced back.
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AZ Medic
Posted on April 10, 2012 at 8:38pmHave any of you read his actual criminal case? If not, then shut up. A DV with a burglary can be something like his girlfriend said he shoved her, then he took her TV Guide. Unless you know the facts of the case, let’s not call him a felon. Although, as a lawyer in CA, I have been taught :the male is always guilty” in a domestic violence case-per many judges. Glad to be back in AZ (where the DV law still sucks, just not as bad),
Report Post »moreteaplease
Posted on April 10, 2012 at 1:20pm“….it’s a source of glee for Teri Newell of Port Angeles who says she helped raise Nicolaysen and describes herself as his aunt.” ….”“I think it’s hilarious,” said Newell.”
Report Post »________________________________________________________
Is it any wonder nowadays that kids grow up to be like this guy?
rafa2design
Posted on April 10, 2012 at 11:54amThis guy is an idiot. But even dumber must be the woman who was his girlfriend. How does a woman end up with such trash?
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on April 10, 2012 at 10:38amI bet his children are just so proud of their Daddy and how he is such a fine and upstanding example for them??? Oh yes, this schumbag is a breeder!!!!
Report Post »db321
Posted on April 10, 2012 at 11:51amThere were stupid things I all did as youth – that I would never want my Kids to know I did. I don’t want them trying to one up me. But, our youth today, are posting everything they do on Facebook and You Tube for all the World to see – and it is their FOREVER!
You Tube is going to embarrass, destroy Careers and haunt people for life.
Report Post »objectivetruth
Posted on April 10, 2012 at 10:04amFolks he doesn’t seem to be the brightest bulb in the bunch.However not knowing his record or Washington State law I hesitate to make a moral judgement on him.Merely an intelluctual one.Some states if you fart in the wrong direction you can catch a charge others it takes a act of God.He seems to be enjoying toying with them though.That in itself isn’t helping his plight one little iota.Maybe he really wasn’t bright enough to know that facebook is used by the cops.In which case he is ignorant not cunning or coy.
Report Post »Disabledvet
Posted on April 10, 2012 at 9:47amCall DOG the bounty hunter. Then send his family the bill for the cops hours doing the search, anyone that encourages him to run is in a way helping him, give them the bill for the costs.
Report Post »linearnonlinear
Posted on April 10, 2012 at 9:45amIt‘s funny how they always think they’ll get away like it’s the movies.
Report Post »TICK TICK TICK. Your time is running out kiddo.
DOA74656
Posted on April 10, 2012 at 8:09amNever run from the law… you’ll only die tired
Report Post »Lol I love that expression
GhostOfLiberty
Posted on April 10, 2012 at 1:33amRunnin’ like a rabbit hopped up on junk. Catch him and lock him up. I could understand a first offense and being panicked, but a repeat offender deserves no leniency.
Report Post »Jaycen
Posted on April 10, 2012 at 1:12amBetter make that his ex-girlfriend. In a post Saturday, Nicolaysen changed his relationship status to single, the Peninsula Daily News reported.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And in other news, Nicolaysen will soon be changing his relationship status to “Prison Bitch”…
Report Post »SpeckledPup
Posted on April 10, 2012 at 12:17amwhat moron would help that idiot.
Report Post »MrObvious
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:36pmWhy the don’t want to serve a warrant to FB, i have no idea. I can’t be that expensive. Who knows how many officers have spent how much time on this guy. Strictly from an ROI standpoint an FB warrant seems like step #1. Find the guy, taser him; and, the next time he makes parole, if he makes it, give him an ankle bracelet. Problem solved.
Report Post »FreedomPurveyor
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:13pmHey, what happened to “don’t rush to judgement?”
If you find yourself hating someone you know nothing about after reading a single article… are you any better than the liberals who gobble up everything the media feeds them?
Report Post »NealPatrick
Posted on April 10, 2012 at 7:00am1. “Nicolaysen has been convicted of five felonies, including domestic violence, burglary and theft of a firearm, police said.”
2. He used the word “bro”.
That’s all I need. There is judging character, which is different than rush to judgement.
Report Post »NOT A CRAZY
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 8:22pmThis clown sounds like a total dirtbag. Don’t glamorize this idiot. If he tries to steal something from me he won’t have to worry about running anymore.
Report Post »Warpath18
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 8:15pmA moron with five felony warrants, and an aunt who is proud of her own felony arrest. What a bunch of winners this group is. Attention human beings! Avoid these morons at all cost! If you know these people, “unknow” them quickly if you want to be considered a human being. For God’s sake, the aunt can’t even spell “because”… Who said euthanasia was a bad idea? Is it too late to abort this entire family tree?
Report Post »burnteye86
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 8:24pmright warpath. that’s one pathetic group of family and friends.
Report Post »McNamara
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 8:14pmAll his friends should go down as accomplices. You can only run so long, and you‘ll just be tired when you’re caught.
Report Post »NOT A CRAZY
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 8:24pmYup!
Report Post »AB5r
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 8:10pmHe’ll slip up and post something about the great meal he just had at some restaurant giving away his location.
Report Post »Warpath18
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 8:09pmFive felonies, and a family full of felons proud of their record. What a bunch of winners this bunch is. Take note human beings! Shoot these dumb arses on sight. Who said that euthanasia was a bad idea? Auntie Teri cannot even spell appropriately. Yet, somehow she has a computer. The gene pool really scrapped the bottom of the barrel for this group of idiots.
Report Post »janedough1
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 10:44pmIt’s “scraped,“ not ”scrapped.”
Report Post »scuba13
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 7:59pmI didn’t know Encinom had any friends to help him.
Report Post »GhostOfLiberty
Posted on April 10, 2012 at 1:35amHa haaaaaaaa! Good one! :-D
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on April 10, 2012 at 10:37amout of left field and Scuba hits a homer!!! LMAO!!!
Report Post »Cosmos102
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 7:58pmThis guy obviously has some kind of personality disorder. Because of that he will need to keep the attention toward him flowing. It‘s only a matter of time before he’s found. The narcissist will always mess up because of his insatiable need for attention. Look at Obamy. It will be his undoing as well.
Report Post »The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 7:52pmThe only stupid part of this story, is why someone with 5 felonies ever got out in the first place. He’s a habitual criminal and this should have been obvious before he was last released. There is only one reason for him not checking in with his community corrections officer…he’s on drugs. Now he’s assaulted his girlfriend. Anyone doubt someone might get killed (other than him) if he gets spotted or cornered?
Way to go judicial system.
Report Post »sooner12
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 8:34pmIn my state we have a “three strikes your out” law. That means this rat would have been thrown into prison after his third felony offense. What a low-life punk.
Report Post »Mark0331
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 7:47pmThese kids are about as bright as 1 watt light bulb…..aiding and abetting, something they have no idea about and never heard of…He is probably making his way to an OWS slum to hide out, he should fit right in.
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