DETROIT, MI — A 23-year-old man was arrested Tuesday after allegedly committing a string of petty thefts across three Detroit neighborhoods while livestreaming the entire spree on TikTok to approximately 2,400 viewers, narrating each crime to the camera and, at the moment of his arrest, pausing to read his comment section aloud.

Demarco Lavon Ellis allegedly broadcast a roughly 90-minute live stream titled “DAY IN THE LIFE (REAL)” during which he is accused of stealing a bicycle, shoplifting from two convenience stores, and removing a potted plant from a restaurant patio — all while holding his phone at arm’s length and providing commentary. Viewers reportedly included several who attempted to warn him in the comments that police had been tagged.

Going Live, Going to Jail

Detroit police were alerted to the stream by multiple viewers who reported it in real time. Officers located Ellis based on landmarks visible in his own broadcast. According to the report, when officers approached, Ellis turned the camera toward them, said “oh we got company,” and continued filming. As he was being handcuffed, Ellis allegedly asked an officer to hold the phone up so he could “see if we hit 3K.”

“He was reading comments while I was reading him his rights. He said, ‘Hold on, somebody just sent a rose.’ I do not know what that means. I told him it didn’t matter. He said it mattered to him.” — Officer Carl Brennan, Detroit PD

The stream was preserved by viewers and is now, somewhat inevitably, evidence. Ellis was booked into the Wayne County Jail on multiple counts of theft. His JailReport.lol booking notes that the stream peaked at 2,900 concurrent viewers “approximately during the handcuffing.” Bond was set at $5,000. The potted plant was returned. The bicycle’s owner was reportedly “a fan of the content but still wanted the bike back.”