Florida Sheriff Mike Chitwood keeps promise to 'embarrass' school threat suspects

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.

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[Winters_Folly]

The Sheriff is right. A lot of people were raised wrong and are raising theirs even worse.

[ShannonGreene-sths]

Sounds fair-people need to be held accountable. Like the Sheriff said, why should 99% of kids put up with threats from a few.

[carriefox]

Parents need to be held accountable for their poor parenting.

[hockeyfanatic]

I’m from Western New York. The school I work at had a threat as well. A kid wrote it on a stall in one of the bathrooms. No lockdown was issued but troopers were on scene the next few days since the message said it would happen two days later.

The sad part is a neighboring district went into total lockdown about a week prior. Apparently a kid sent a Snapchat to a friend that said “I’m the shooter.” There were over a dozen police cars on scene and kids weren’t released until two hours after the regular dismissal time.

Schools and Parents both need to start holding kids accountable. You can’t take this lightly and it sure as hell isn’t funny.

[lcvb]

Fantastic!! We need more law enforcement like him!

[rachellebelcastro]

They also need community service!! Age appropiate, but still some uncomfortable consequences!

[CharlesScott-wodr]

Florida sure has some great sheriff's. 👍

[LoisReynolds-sv]

KEEP IT UP!!! these Parents NEED to take Responsibility for their little Basterds It’s up to them to watch their kids SENDING THEM to their ROOM with their computer is NOT HELPING!!!

[ExceptionalLibra]

These kids think it's funny. My family lives in Arkansas, and recently, they've had constant threats called into their schools. The schools were forced to close each time a call was made. It makes no sense.

[randyross]

Keep up the great work you are doing to keep kids safe and learning !

[t.f]

I’m not sure if it’s been done and what not but each police department from their own town should visit their school at the beginning of the school year and have all the children and parents present so they can talk about this. Let the parents know what would happen if your child makes threats and how they can to be in trouble and liable for everything. Elementary/high school/college don’t matter.

[SkylerBaisch]

Make public shame great again!....and America will follow.

[ArtBelleisle]

Great job Sheriff!! I raised by children this way, and am proud to say they are law-abiding adults today. I was also raised that way, parents now are just TOO sensitive not wanting to "hurt my child's feelings." Better to hurt feelings now than to see them locked up with ADULT prisoners! I've worked in law enforcement and in prisons... it is not where children should "live."

[walterlewis]

Im no lover of police, but right is right and this man is RIGHT in every sense⚖️💯💪

[deebedwell]

You start arresting parents for their kids behavior and I just bet they'll throw out their gentle parenting and adopt a discipline strategy.

[CurvyTribune]

This Sheriff Kicks Ass 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[rixlox]

Sheriff’s across the nation…please adopt this! There is a threat in my kids school district for this Friday. This sh!t aint funny!!!

[stub]

If it's a adult crime, then they shouldn't be treating them like a kid.

[dwightpierce]

Sentence him to do 3 day cleanup detail at county morgue

[kristiofca]

My 12 year old granddaughter just went through this when her school was on a list found on social media. She is emotionally traumatized. No one should ever feel unsafe at school. NO ONE. They did arrest 13 and 16 year old kids but the stress and fear remains for these students and faculty.