SAN ANTONIO – Christopher Dudding, 34, has been arrested in connection with an identity theft case, and investigators with the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office credit social media for the capture.
They believe Dudding is the man who was caught on surveillance cameras Oct. 26 as he tried to persuade clerks at an H-E-B store in the 3300 block of Southeast Military Drive to allow him to cash two different stolen checks.
"They told him, 'Hey, this check's bad.' He said, 'OK. Let me write you another one.’ He used a check from another account,” BCSO spokesman James Keith said.
Keith said after his second check was denied, Dudding stormed out of the store, leaving behind a wallet that contained about 20 identification cards that did not belong to him.
Still, although detectives had the wallet and pictures of the man, they did not know his name or where to find him. Keith said that’s when they decided to post the surveillance photos on Facebook. Soon, he said, they had received several tips, including one that led them to Dudding.
"Facebook and social media, they have become valuable tools for law enforcement,” Keith said. “This is a situation where we might not have been able to identify this man had we not been able to post his photo.”
Dudding was taken into custody and arrested Tuesday night. He is charged with fraudulent use or possession of identifying information.