2 Volusia County students, 16 and 17, arrested for alleged school threats: Sheriff Chitwood
VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. - Two high school students – a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old – were arrested on Wednesday after posting a school shooting threat on social media, according to Sheriff Mike Chitwood.
Chitwood said both students attend T. Dewitt Taylor Middle-High in Pierson, Florida, which is part of Volusia County Public Schools.
"Two more students are in custody following a school shooting threat. This time it’s a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old at Taylor High in Pierson. The threat was on Snapchat. Of course it was a ‘joke,'" he said.
Sheriff Chitwood has taken a hard line stance on the number of shooting threats that have allegedly been posted by students on social media – and cost his agency thousands of dollars to investigate. Those threats, so far, have been determined to be "jokes," unsubstantiated, or not credible.
Last week during a press conference, Sheriff Chitwood promised to release the mug shots and "perk walk" videos of those students arrested, accused of posting threats. On Monday, he appeared to keep that promise. He released the mug shot of an 11-year-old boy accused of posting a "joke" threat on social media and video of that boy in handcuffs being led into the juvenile detention center.
'Do your job': Volusia Sheriff fed up with hoax school threats
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood has strong words for parents and students after his department has seen an increase in bogus school shooting threats. "Parents, do your job," Sheriff Chitwood said. He said his school has spent thousands of dollars investigation potential social media threats targeting schools, some that turned out to be jokes. Some students have been arrested and charged. Sheriff Chitwood threatened if he finds out a parent knew about their student's alleged threats and did nothing about it, he'll arrest them and perp walk them alongside their child.
Late Wednesday night, Sheriff Chitwood posted a video to his Facebook page of the alleged students in handcuffs, walking out of an inmate transport van, and being walked into the juvenile detention center.
Florida statute does give law enforcement the freedom to release a minor's name, photo, and, technically, address if they're accused of a felony. FOX 35 has decided not to name the alleged students or name them. FOX 35 typically does not identify juvenile suspects unless they're charged as an adult.
Source: Sheriff Mike Chitwood/Facebook
"Parents, you don't want to raise your kids, I'm going to start raising them. 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," said Sheriff Chitwood last week.
"The second point of this is, if I can in anyway find out that a parent knew what was going on and wasn't doing anything, your (expletive) is getting perp-walked with them," he said.
Sheriff Chitwood on viral TikTok over shooting threats
Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood had a strong message to parents and students after an increase in apparent school shooting threats at schools across Florida. Several students have been arrested, accused of making a written threat. Chitwood said the hoax threats are 'ridiculous,' that parents need to 'do your job,' costing his agency thousands in investigative costs, and vowed to show the mug shots and 'perp walk' videos of kids accused of making threats. That speech has gona viral on TikTok. FOX 35's video has 7.5M views as of Wednesday. Chitwood joined FOX 35 News+ to discuss the message that's clearly resonating with the TikTok audience.
On Wednesday, Sheriff Chitwood joined FOX 35's Garrett Wymer on FOX 35 News+, our daily streaming show from 11 a.m. to noon, to discuss the response to his remarks – and the release of that prep walk.
Video of Chitwood's remarks have garnered more than 7 million views on FOX 35's TikTok account, @fox35newsorlando.