US fugitive Donald Pugh sends selfie to police as his mugshot photo was 'terrible'

Donald 'Chip' Pugh sent police a photo of himself after finding the photo in his arrest warrant 'terrible." In a text to the Lima Police Department with the selfie, he said: "Here is a better photo that one is terrible."

The Lima Police in Ohio had posted photos of Pugh on their Facebook asking for help in trying to locate him after he failed to appear in court. The police said there is an active warrant for arrest for Pugh, 45, who they said is a "person of interest" in several cases, including arson and vandalism.

There is an active warrant for the arrest of Donald A "Chip" Pugh, age 45 of Lima, for Failure to Appear. Mr. Pugh is...
Posted by Lima Police Department on Wednesday, January 6, 2016

On receiving the selfie from Pugh himself, the department posted the new photo on their Facebook and said: "This photo was sent to us by Mr Pugh himself. We thank him for being helpful, but now we would appreciate it if he would come speak to us at the LPD about his charges."

This photo was sent to us by Mr. Pugh himself. We thank him for being helpful, but now we would appreciate it if he would come speak to us at the LPD about his charges.
Posted by Lima Police Department on Wednesday, January 6, 2016

The Facebook page received various comments, including those who thought Pugh's actions hilarious while others felt that the Lima police should "go get him". Many were curious on what offences Pugh had committed and whether they were serious offences or just for parking violations.

LImaOhio.com reported that in an interview with a radio station, Pugh said: "Man, they just did me wrong. They put a picture that made me look like I was a Thundercat or something." He said once he was released by the police, he simply decided that he did not want to attend his scheduled court appearance.

"When I was a little kid, my grandmother told me a bedtime story. My hero was this character who used to say: 'Run, run, fast as you can. You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man," he told the radio station.

Pugh seems to have garnered a 'fan club' of sorts. There is a video of a new dance called the 'Chip Pugh,' featuring someone doing a running man dance. Pugh is also featured in a "Where's Waldo?" type of puzzle. There is also a "Free Chip Hugh" Facebook page that shows pictures of Pugh 'hiding' in the bushes in front of the Lima Police Department as well as behind its Police Chief Kevin Martin.