A young man from Michigan honored his word to surrender to the police if he received 1,000 Facebook shares, even bringing doughnuts for the officers.
“He walked into the police station on his own, and not only did he bring the doughnuts, he brought one bagel!” the Redford Township Police Department wrote on their Facebook page. “We would again like to express our gratitude for the support of all who followed this, shared it, and left us positive feedback.”
Authorities had issued a warrant for 21-year-old Michael Martin Zaydel’s arrest after he violated his probation by driving under the influence, according to the Daily Mail. Zaydel had previously evaded capture but turned himself in after challenging the police with a social media contest.
“If [your] next post gets a thousand shares I’ll turn myself in along with a dozen doughnuts,” Zaydel wrote on the police department’s Facebook page. “And that’s a promise. And I’ll pick up every piece of litter around all your public schools. Let’s see if you can get those shares.”
The police eagerly accepted the challenge.
“[He] has issued the RTPD a challenge,” they wrote. “As you can see below, if we can have this post SHARED 1000 times, he will turn himself in to RTPD on his existing warrants, clean up blight on public school property, and bring us a dozen doughnuts. Doughnuts!!!!”
The department asked the public to help achieve the goal.
“Help us win this challenge and clean up [blight] in Redford at the same time!” they added. “It’s as easy as a SHARE of this post.”
The public responded swiftly. Within 10 days, the post had been shared more than 4,200 times.
After turning himself in, Zaydel was held in jail overnight. He was scheduled to appear before a judge in district court on October 17.
Zaydel’s actions surprised and delighted many on the internet.
“Well played,” wrote one user on the police department’s Facebook post. “He was a man of his word. Hope he learns from his mistakes and is able to have a good life.”
Some thought his sentence should be reduced because he turned himself in.
“This has to be a first!” commented another. “Lol Hey whatever works, right? I hope he gets less time for bringing the doughnuts… and keeping his promise to turn himself in.”
Others praised the police department for working with Zaydel on a way to safely turn himself in.
“RTPD, it was more than generous of this department to allow this young man to turn himself in, in this manner,” wrote another. “It is strange, but good PR and community relations. Nicely handled!”
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