Police: Orchard Gun Threat Not Credible
A police report filed by a parent claimed that a 10-year-old boy threatened a 10-year-old girl with a gun, but police do not believe the threat was credible.
A 10-year-old male student at Orchard Middle School reportedly threatened a 10-year-old girl with a gun, according to a police report filed by a parent of the girl.
But after a quick follow-up investigation, Solon Police do not believe the threat was credible and no charges or further action will be taken by the department, according to Lt. Bruce Felton with the Solon Police.
Witnesses to the Nov. 7 incident, including some who were friends with the victim, told a detective they did not hear the boy mention a gun.
Suzi Castiglione
11:00 am on Monday, November 19, 2012
Perhaps the Patch should have used the word "allegedly" in their initial report?
Kerri PD
11:45 am on Monday, November 19, 2012
I agree Suzi - sensationalizing is never helpful
Dennis Castiglione
12:27 pm on Monday, November 19, 2012
I've been a fan of the Patch since they launched and appreciate the heightened interest and attention drawn to the community and the various organizations my family and I support. But this is, in my opinion, irresponsible journalism. A second strike, in my book (the first being your handling of the 'story' at the Solon Center for the Arts) Come on, Chris - good journalists (and their editors) are not only thorough in their research but accurate with the facts and careful with their language when they publish. The panic this might have caused, as initially reported - and the negative attention it could attract to Solon because of the story is unfathomable. I'm genuinely disappointed.
Harry
9:14 am on Tuesday, November 20, 2012
If the city administration thought was happened at SCA was serious enough to merit action through it's fraud policy where an older (protected by certain employment laws) director resigned in a one sentence letter then there is a "smoking gun here". If there wasn't why did even more employees resign after the Director left? What is irresponsible about the kind of journalism?
Suzi Castiglione
12:34 pm on Monday, November 19, 2012
Agree with my husband 100%. I was so disappointed with the poor handling of the storeis about Solon Center for the Arts in your outlet. It's one thing to report accurate facts, but sensationalizing is not good reporting. I had expected better.
Harry
9:11 am on Tuesday, November 20, 2012
I disagree. If it made the police blotter and the police released this information then news outlets have every right to report it as news. The Patch also reported the follow up story. Obviously someone (either the SPD, schools or parents) made it news. The Patch (as a 24/7 news source) did nothing wrong by reporting it.
Chris Mazzolini
12:53 pm on Monday, November 19, 2012
Hi Suzi and Dennis: Please understand that our reporting of the Orchard incident was based on the police report and was accurate based on what was filed with the department. And that's why we came back and updated the story, because obviously its a serious matter and we wanted to make sure parents and all of our readers got an accurate picture of what happened.
As for the Solon Center for the Arts situation, I would be happy to talk with you both about our handling of that story. Let me know if you'd like to talk.
Dennis Castiglione
2:12 pm on Monday, November 19, 2012
Hi Chris;
Happy to talk to you about the handling of both stories, offline. Will be in touch.
Dennis
tomcody
8:23 am on Tuesday, November 20, 2012
again the patch resorts to YELLOW JOURNALISM..!!.