Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood has publicly condemned parents and students after his agency spent nearly $21,000 investigating dozens of false school threats posted on social media in less than 24 hours.
Speaking at a news conference alongside Volusia Public Schools officials, Chitwood described the situation as “absolutely out of control.”
He revealed that 54 threats were reported through the Fortify Florida app, which allows citizens to report suspicious activity to law enforcement. Each tip turned out to be a hoax, yet the investigations have been costly.
Read: Superintendent Addresses Surge In Social Media Threats Targeting Pasco County Schools
“What we’re going to start doing Monday is, since parents, you don’t want to raise your kids, I’m going to start raising them,” Chitwood said. “Every time we make an arrest, your kid’s photo is going to be put out there. And if I could do it, I’m going to perp walk your kid so that everybody can see what your kid’s up to. The second point of this is, if I can any way find out that a parent knew what was going on and wasn’t doing anything, your ass is getting perp walked with them.”
Following the tragic school shooting in rural Georgia, a disturbing wave of school shooting threats has swept across the nation, leading to numerous arrests, heightened police presence, and school lockdowns or closures.
Read: Newsome High School Dismissal Times Modified After Threat Investigation Friday
The same day as the Georgia incident, a 15-year-old in a nearby county was arrested for allegedly discussing plans to “finish the job.”
Similarly, a 13-year-old girl in Hillsborough County, Florida, was taken into custody after posting a threat on Instagram, though she later claimed it was a joke.
Several Florida counties, including Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, and Polk, have witnessed their share of threats and arrests since the start of the school year. These incidents extend far beyond Florida, with at least 13 children arrested across multiple states in recent days.
This trend of making false threats, often called “swatting,” poses a serious danger, even if intended as a joke. It diverts law enforcement resources, causes unnecessary panic, and disrupts the learning environment for students and staff.
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