LONDON -- Normally a massive public response to a police appeal would be a good thing, but sometimes -- as was the case with the e-fit issued recently by Cheshire police for a knife-wielding man spotted in a Macclesfield pub -- the response isn't exactly what they're looking for.
The picture was shared by the Macclesfield Express and then picked up by the Manchester Evening News, and it quickly began doing the rounds on Facebook and Twitter.
"witnesses noticed AA batteries in a plastic case around the man's waist."https://t.co/BUNMB9z1Xh pic.twitter.com/SQSVqxvEw8— Macclesfield Express (@MaccExpress) January 22, 2016
The responses varied from the inevitable jokes about Microsoft Paint to many, many pictures like this one.
Things went downhill from there.
. @MENnewsdesk He's in the back row, third from the right. pic.twitter.com/VHQRrMtaaA— Northern Gent (@NothernGent) January 26, 2016
@MENnewsdesk pic.twitter.com/5g4lgeD6Da— Scib (@Scib77) January 26, 2016
.@MENnewsdesk Hi, I think I know who that man is. I saw the same bloke shagging a farmyard animal pic.twitter.com/0aeEs2JXtY— GeorgeWeahsCousin (@WeahsCousin) January 26, 2016
@MENnewsdesk I might have a match... pic.twitter.com/UOmfeIHfEL— Stuart Durber (@StuartDurber) January 26, 2016
@MENnewsdesk With the accuracy of the beard in the e-fit..I do believe it could also be a women!!! pic.twitter.com/QnyoO3WNOB— Michelle Pearson (@shelzymac) January 27, 2016
@MENnewsdesk found him.... pic.twitter.com/sGTISCqt2g— Stu (@Stupendous_one) January 26, 2016
Cheshire police confirmed to Mashable that they did indeed issue the e-fit, but said they have no comment on the reaction at this time.
The man in the e-fit was seen with a knife in The Park Lane pub in Macclesfield on the evening of the Jan. 12, the Macclesfield Express reports. Although no one was hurt, the man apparently used the weapon to threaten another person in the pub.
Anyone with any information can contact Cheshire Police on 101 (quoting incident no. 835), or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.