Arrested Over Twitter: 8 Tweets That Got People BUSTED

Twitterers and non-Twitterers alike often grumble that the many tweets are fluffy nonsense--posts about what we ate for breakfast, complaints about the weather, and other trifles. But some unlucky Tweeters have found it's better to be boring than to get busted.

We've taken a look at 8 cases where Twitter overshares, "jokes," and opinionated tweets have gotten people arrested. Know of other cases? Share them with us at technology [at] huffingtonpost.com!

See the slideshow below, then check out tweets that got people fired, 19 Facebook posts that got people arrested, and Facebook overshares that got users canned.

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Man Arrested, Fined For Tweeting Airport Bomb Threat

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Paul Chambers, 27, was arrested after tweeting a "joke" airport bomb threat. Frustrated by delays at the airport, Chambers wrote, "Robin Hood airport is closed. You've got a week and a bit to get your shit together, otherwise I'm blowing the airport sky high!!" The AP reports, "An airport employee came across the tweet a few days later, but security staff there decided it was not a credible bomb threat. Nevertheless, they passed the message on to police. Chambers was arrested two days before his flight was due to leave." Chambers was convicted of sending a threatening message and slapped with a fine. He insists the message was merely "innocuous hyperbole."

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Paul Chambers, 27, was arrested after tweeting a "joke" airport bomb threat. Frustrated by delays at the airport, Chambers wrote, "Robin Hood airport is closed. You've got a week and a bit to get your shit together, otherwise I'm blowing the airport sky high!!" The AP reports, "An airport employee came across the tweet a few days later, but security staff there decided it was not a credible bomb threat. Nevertheless, they passed the message on to police. Chambers was arrested two days before his flight was due to leave." Chambers was convicted of sending a threatening message and slapped with a fine. He insists the message was merely "innocuous hyperbole."

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Comments

[Julie Spira]

09:04 PM on 08/26/2010

Just like you need to think before pushing the send button on an email when you are angry, both personally and professionally, you need to think about the quality of your tweets and status updates. Permanently indexed by Google, you need to keep the "social" in social networking and "business" in business networking. When in doubt, don't.

[Ken-Symes]

07:12 PM on 08/27/2010

Julie: I've been trying out Tone Check which works like a spell checker to check the tone of emails. It's pretty cool. And interesting to get that opinion on how others might hear my emails. Maybe they'll have to do one for Twitter!

I thought the picture of the Twitter bird in a cage was hilarious! Great post. People do the craziest things!

[dudedudeduuude]

05:36 PM on 08/26/2010

Can't believe someone didn't have the idea to call this headline "Jailbirds: ..."

[Michael Myers]

05:24 PM on 08/26/2010

Why is it that Paul Chambers got fined for making a joke threat (which he well deserved) but protest groups that actually blow things up and take responsibility for it don't.

I believe that if a protest group takes responsibility for a crime then they should face criminal charges and the group be fined if the guilty member isn't caught.

[Tenley]

11:47 AM on 08/26/2010

So Bieber and his management team are okay with tweeting to harass a non-celebrity with thousands upon thousands of phone calls but not okay with tweeting to help crowd control? This obviously isn't the first or last time with this guy and while many people thought it was a hoot what he did to that kid this almost can't end well.

[runtwelds]

09:18 AM on 08/26/2010

he looks like he has Lego people hair.

[alex200901]

09:58 AM on 08/26/2010

Zero clue what that means!

[dct1999]

08:14 AM on 08/26/2010

Justin Bieber jokes are tired and boring.

[alex200901]

09:04 AM on 08/26/2010

He has a great story and is a decent role model for his generation. Never heard any of his songs, but read an article about him and the little that I learned, he seems like (a good'en). As far as the hair: thats a white thing, i wouldn't understand the uproar over it.

[dct1999]

09:11 AM on 08/26/2010

I don't get the hair jokes either, funny stuff.

[autistichelper]

02:08 AM on 08/26/2010

People should be aware that everything they post will be viewed by millions whether the like it or not.

[autistichelper]

02:00 AM on 08/26/2010

People should know by now that you just can't say what you want on the internet. You must be very careful for two main reasons.
1. You comments, rants, statements, and blogs stay on here for ever.
2. Now a days your job and others are watching you and you can be held accountable. I will definitely write a blog about this.

[KriTiKiT]

05:32 AM on 08/26/2010

i don't think what you say should matter to your boss...
he don't own me

[alex200901]

08:53 AM on 08/26/2010

...but he 'owns' your cubicle!

[goldhillnv]

01:16 AM on 08/26/2010

What's with this kid's hair?

[Brian Berneker]

11:20 PM on 08/25/2010

How can I NOT retweet this?

[timmcveighjr]

10:07 PM on 08/25/2010

i, for one, will be very happy the day that Huffpost stops this having to switch pages with each and every item with something like this, and lists them on one whole page. it just slows ye olde pc down, and wastes time.

thank you.

[jnkekoa]

10:30 PM on 08/25/2010

seconded

[Haunted Leg]

11:59 PM on 08/25/2010

Aw, come-one, it's just a super annoying way to falsely generate more page hits in order for huffpo to scam advertisers out of more money.

[KIVPossum]

08:37 AM on 08/26/2010

clicks = $

[DocRockk]

09:48 PM on 08/25/2010

#3 "Police Snag Man For Tweeting Their Movements" hasn't got a pray in a courtroom. Free Speech and all that.

[BrooklynChef]

09:36 PM on 08/25/2010

But Oliver Stone said that there is no censorship in Venezuela.

[reddy52]

11:42 PM on 08/25/2010

Censorship? What about the one in Guatemala?

[tnlcallen]

06:26 AM on 08/26/2010

They both seemed a bit anti free speech. Can you imagine if they did that in this country. Most of the people who post here would be in the pokey since they are saying take your money out of big banks.

[SiberianRat]

08:39 PM on 08/25/2010

Biebs has got quite the foof on his head.

[jdiary]

08:36 PM on 08/25/2010

What is that thing on Bieber's head? Has anyone figured that out yet?