Another link between a now-defunct social media handle and a prior Twitter investigation by the Starkville Police Department emerged Wednesday, showing @BullyNews sought direct communication with a Twitter user who, in 2012, created an official account in the likeness of the police department.

Last month, the person operating the @BullyNews account identified himself as a journalist while attempting to get the person who operates the @BenCarverPrays parody account to call a detective’s cell phone number for an interview. The @BenCarverPrays account satirizes Ward 1 Alderman Ben Carver.

Now it appears that the @BullyNews account — which has been deactivated — previously dug for information on two previous police investigations.

An Internet search shows that in April 2012, the @BullyNews account contacted a fake account dubbed @StarkvillePD requesting an interview with its operator.

“@StarkvillePD this is a great new service,” the @BullyNews account tweeted. “Who is a contact person for the Twitter account. (sic) I would like to conduct an interview.”

The police department went on to arrest a 19-year-old Starkville resident for impersonating a police officer in May 2012 after the account he created claimed to be “the official Twitter page of the Starkville Police Department,” The Dispatch reported last year.

“Detectives traced the account, which was discovered by police April 11, to (the suspect’s) computer, through his IP address,” The Dispatch reported.

April 11, 2012, was the same date @BullyNews tweeted at @StarkvillePD for an interview.

A day later, the account referenced an outbreak of graffiti in Starkville with two tweets. In those tweets the @BullyNews said: “Whose (sic) the talented artist? Going to interview about his motivation. NAme (sic) will be kept secret.”

In May, 20-year-old Starkville resident Colton Jackson Stephens was sentenced to 90 days in the Oktibbeha County Jail, with 88 days suspended due to good behavior, after he pleaded guilty to 16 acts of graffiti, The Dispatch reported. He was arrested in October 2012.

On Tuesday, a Dispatch interview with the person who operates the @BenCarverPrays account revealed that direct messages — private conversations between the two users on Twitter — show @BullyNews told @BenCarverPrays to call a phone number on July 31, “ask for Bradley” and referenced an upcoming press deadline. The account then stated it was run by a freelance writer but never identified a publication.

The cell phone number @BullyNews gave the parody account’s manager was the same one given to The Dispatch as a point of contact for Detective William Durr, who is leading the investigation into possible identity theft involving Twitter accounts satirizing Ward 3 Alderman David Little and Carver.

The Starkville Police Department does not maintain an official social media account, Chief David Lindley said Tuesday. He denied knowledge of any subordinate using a fake account in its current parody investigation.

Lindley did confirm the number given to the @BenCarverPrays account by @BullyNews is within a range operated by the police department.

“I have no information at all and have no knowledge of it,” Lindley said. “We don’t have a problem with anybody circulating our police numbers to provide us information on ongoing investigations.”

The profile picture associated with the @BullyNews account appears to be a photograph from the London, England-based, firm Kelso Consulting London Public Relations Agency.

A screen capture taken by The Dispatch before the account was deactivated shows @BullyNews’ profile picture is marked with the text “Twitter and professional services.”

Oktibbeha County Circuit Court Judge Jim Kitchens signed an order last week asking Twitter to furnish the district attorney’s office with personal information — name, IP addresses and other details — associated with the former Little parody account.

A similar court order for the Carver parody was drafted, but a copy obtained by The Dispatch Tuesday lacks a judge’s signature.

A handwritten addendum on the Little order cites Miss. Code Annotated 97-7-43, which lays the groundwork for misdemeanor claims against “whoever falsely and willfully assumes or pretends to be an officer or employee acting under the authority of the State of Mississippi,” including municipalities.

The crime carries a maximum possible penalty of six months in jail and a $500 fine. No charges have been filed in connection with the investigation.

As of Tuesday, Twitter had not responded to the court order, but had answered a previous request by Starkville police to freeze and preserve information associated with the two parody accounts.

Another document, titled “Underlying facts and circumstances,” filed by Durr, states the Little parody was “created in the name of David Little and then later renamed to be a parody account. After the discovery of this account, it was confirmed that there was no authorization by David Little to create any Twitter account in his name.”

Both the court order and the DA’s petition to the court state @DavidLittleBOA was later renamed to @DavidLittleFake. It is unknown when this change occurred.

According to the social media company’s usage policies, parody accounts are allowed as long as the creator of the account makes it clear that the account is not the same as the subject of the parody.

Little text messaged The Dispatch Wednesday morning in regard to its Tuesday phone call, but the alderman did not return a phone call placed later in the day.

Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch

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