Pokemon Go Player Caught: Game Leads Wanted Man to Police

Positive things have been said about Pokemon Go, most notably how it bring reclusives who play video games out into the light of day. But it's unlikely anyone expected the upside of the game that the Milford, Michigan police experienced last week.

A wanted man presented himself to them in front of the station in his pajamas at night, seeking a nearby Pokemon, reports the Huffington Post. The player must be identifying with the characters in his game right now. He got caught by the cops while he was out trying to "catch 'em all."

A Funny Case

Chief Thomas Lindberg of the Milford police department told reporters that this was one of the funniest cases he has ever seen. William Wilcox made his officer's work easy ... and confirmed the chief's suspicion that Pokemon Go would be important to police.

The department has a Pokemon character by its flagpole, and its detectives were assigned to learn everything they could about the game, given its popularity. Their efforts paid off.

Failure to Appear

William Wilcox, who was wanted for failing to appear in court on a misdemeanor charge, presented himself before the station in his pajamas. He was not planning to turn himself in but was hunting for the station's Pokemon. That's when he got caught.

The police chief explained how his officers handled the arrest. "They approached him. Took him in custody without incident and he admitted he was trying to catch the character at the flagpole." Lindberg told reporters that Wilcox seemed more upset by having to stop playing than by getting caught himself. "He either forgot that he had a warrant out for his arrest or was just ignoring it thinking nothing will happen."

Wilcox was lucky -- the judge released him on his own recognizance, reportedly. So he'll be free to play Pokemon Go until his next court date at least.

But this is probably a good time to remind Pokemon Go players and everyone else that courts do issue bench warrants for failure to appear. Often, small cases snowball into bigger ones when defendants miss court dates. So take Wilcox's case to heart, and remember, it's better to catch a Pokemon than to become one.

Wanted?

If your have a warrant out for your arrest due to a failure to appear in court, or for any other reason, talk to a criminal defense attorney today. Don't wait to get caught to resolve your matter. Many criminal defense attorneys consult for free or a minimal fee and will be happy to discuss your situation.

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Related Resources:

• Find Criminal Defense Lawyers Near You (FindLaw's Lawyer Directory)
• Police Nationwide Warn Players about Pokemon Go Crimes (FindLaw Blotter)
• Playing Pokemon Go Is Causing Real Injuries (FindLaw's Injured Blog)
• Sinister Side of Pokemon Go Shows Itself (FindLaw's Legally Weird)