$50,000: Filipino man has assisted Police to arrest Facebook killer

Cleveland police says a Filipino worker has assisted in the arrest of the man suspected of killing a random passerby and posting the gruesome footage on Facebook after the outfit announced a $50,000 reward.

The Filipino, who works as a security officer, and name withheld for his safety, would be receiving the $50,000 reward from Crimestoppers on Thursday for providing information leading to the capture of the man.

Police issued a nationwide search for Steve Stephens, 37, and asked residents of Pennsylvania, New York, Indiana, and Michigan to be on alert.

Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams said officers searched dozens of locations for Stephens with no success until the whistle-blower gave us credible information leading to his arrest.

Officers were sent to check the Philadelphia area, and police say eight elementary schools and a high school were locked down as a precaution.

Authorities issued an arrest warrant for Stephens early Monday. He is charged with aggravated murder in the death of Robert Godwin.

Williams said detectives had spoken with Stephens via cellphone at one point, but hadn’t made any other contact with him.

“Early in this investigation we did have contact with him, direct contact with our detectives,” Williams said. “They tried to convince him to turn himself in.”

Stephens had no previous criminal record, only “a lot” of traffic violations, Williams said.

The video of Godwin’s murder posted to Facebook purportedly shows Stephens getting out of his car and targeting Godwin, 74, who is holding a plastic shopping bag. Stephens shouted the name of a woman, whom Godwin did not recognize.

Facebook said the suspect did go live on the social media website at one point during the day, but not during the killing. Police earlier had said that Stephens had broadcast it on Facebook Live.

In one of the videos he posted to Facebook, Stephens can be seen holding up his Beech Brook employee identification badge.

Stephens also mentioned his fraternity, Omega Psi Phi, in one of his Facebook posts. The fraternity issued a statement Sunday night.

Police said Stephens should be considered armed and dangerous.