A Hendersonville woman Shannon D. Jackson, 36 has been arrested Friday, Sept. 25 for virtually “poking” someone on the popular social networking site Facebook.
Police deemed that 36-year-old Shannon Jackson violated a protection order – similar to a restraining order – by using the site’s feature to attract the attention of another user.
The order previously obtained by the woman who received the poke banned Jackson from “telephoning, contacting or otherwise communicating with the petitioner”.
According to the affidavit filed in Sumner County General Sessions Court, Jackson is accused of using the “poke” option on Facebook to contact a Hendersonville woman, thus violating the terms of the order of protection, which stipulates “no telephoning, contacting or otherwise communicating with the petitioner.”
While police interventions to halt online harassment are not uncommon, this is believed to be one of the first cases of someone being detained for a poke – one of the most rudimentary forms of virtual communication.
Poking is a feature unique to Facebook that conveys no other message but informing a user they have been “poked” by another user.
Police in Hendersonville, Tennessee have obtained screen grabs of the victim’s Facebook page showing evidence of the poke, according to the local newspaper The Tennessean.
Jackson declined to comment Thursday afternoon.
Violating an order of protection is a Class A misdemeanor. Jackson faces up to 11 months 29 days in prison and fine of $2,500 if she is found guilty of breaching the protection order. She is due to appear in court later this month.
Jackson was transported to Sumner County Jail. Her bond was set at $1,500. She is scheduled to appear in Sumner County General Sessions Court in Gallatin on Oct. 28.
Although the poking angle may be unique, this is not the first time that Facebook communication has led to an arrest. Earlier this month a burglar in Italy was held after logging on to Facebook while carrying out a break-in.
Beware of Poking…..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????????
