Apparently Hightower chose to keep a low profile by limiting his activities to playing video games. But, because the type of game he was using was online, all anyone needed was his IP address to find the computer he was playing on.
Investigators in Kokomo, Ind. managed to convince Activision Blizzard, the company which operates the game, to do just that.
Once the American cops received a billing address, computer IP address, online screen name, and preferred server, they contacted the RCMP and Hightower was picked up.
He was expected to arrive back in Kokomo on Tuesday and appear in court there this week.
According to the website Geek.com, Hightower’s online identity in the game involving witches and warlocks was Rastlyn. The site is attempting to start on online chat to find out if he was arrested while playing with his character — a level 80 Tauren Shaman.
Site commentators suggest Hightower, or whoever logged in at that address, must have spent a lot of time playing to reach level 80.
Kokomo sheriff’s deputy Matt Roberson told the website AFP that he knew about the game World of Warcraft because he used to play it.
“I put that information in my pocket and continued to gather evidence,” Roberson told AFP.
Spokesman JP Vincelette says he “won’t confirm or deny” if Ottawa Police were involved in the arrest. “We don’t comment on the investigation of another agency,” said Vincelette.
This isn’t the first time Roberson has used the Internet to make an arrest.
He was able to nab another drug dealer in Kokomo on Tuesday after tracking him down on social networking site Facebook.
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