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 Linda Thomas
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Linda is the morning news anchor and features reporter for KIRO Radio. This is her local news blog, with an emphasis on social media, technology, Northwest companies, education, parenting, and anything else that grabs her attention.

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SFViolence.jpg
Red Devil Lounge, a San Francisco music venue, posted this photo on its Facebook page to try to catch "this jerk" who vandalized a bus following the Giant's World Series game. (Photo by Susana Bates)

Facebook: Today's version of a wild west wanted poster

October 30, 2012 @ 6:25 pm (Updated: 8:17 am - 10/31/12 )

A man wearing a black San Francisco Giants ball cap and a black Giants sweatshirt hurls a metal guard rail into a bus, naturally to celebrate his team's World Series win. Clapping isn't enough.

A photographer captured enough evidence to prove he wasn't just whistling and walking by the bus, but who is the guy?

A San Francisco music venue is using its Facebook page, and crowd sourcing, to try to identify him for police. Spoiler alert: It worked.

The Red Devil Lounge posted the picture with this message:

SHARE THIS PHOTO: Please help the SFPD locate this jerk that used the Giants celebration as a reason to destroy things and endanger people. This isn't what San Francisco is about. Be smart and safe and kind when you celebrate - Your friends at the Red Devil.

It's been shared more than 18,000 times. There are 9,000 "likes" and more than 4,000 comments in just a few days since the vandalism.

Posters point out the "other idiots in the background smiling" as the Giants vandal swings at the bus.

With these many eyes on this guy, it didn't take long for San Francisco police to make an arrest. Late yesterday they arrested 22-year-old Gregory Graniss on felony vandalism charges.

Facebook was also instrumental in identifying a significant number of participants in the 2011 Vancouver riots, following the Canucks defeat in the Stanley Cup final.

The Seattle Police Department has posted pictures, through the media, asking for help identifying May Day rioters.

Good use of social media? I think so.

By LINDA THOMAS, I've never understood sports riots

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