December 16, 2010 Mall kidnapping proves to be false rumor www.privateofficer.com
Although WTOL has received many phone calls and emails from people are really worried about the issue, Police Chief Mike Navarre says it’s absolutely not true.
“There was absolutely no evidence, whatsoever, that anything remotely close to this had occurred.”
Message boards and emails are full of stories about a teenaged girl that two men tried to kidnap at Westfield Franklin Park Mall. In all of the stories, the girl is rescued, but the abductors get away.
The abductors are allegedly seen racing to a van where other girls are already being held captive.
“It was a rumor that had spread quite quickly to a lot of people. I think it’s the perfect example of what can happen today with the electronic age,” Navarre said.
Chief Navarre says he thoroughly investigated the rumors by checking for any 911 calls, police reports, criminal investigations, and talking with mall security. He concluded that someone has began a nasty rumor.
“If it’s true, then somebody is guilty of the biggest cover-up since Watergate. Because there is not one tiny bit of evidence that would support anything remotely possible to this happening,” Navarre said.
Westfield Franklin Park issued a statement saying:
This rumor is false. The Toledo police department has conducted a thorough investigation and determined that no such incident has ever been witnessed or reported at Westfield Franklin Park.
Chief Navarre said he wants to put this rumor to rest because it can unfairly hurt business.
By:WTOL
- Leave a comment
- Posted under mall security
