Late Thursday and early Friday, rumors circulated on social media suggesting that a bus had dropped off 76 "unknown individuals" in Frackville, raising safety concerns throughout the community.
According to Frackville Chief of Police, Paul Olson, the rumors first surfaced online on the Frackville Community Page on Facebook, causing alarm among residents and even impacting the North Schuylkill School District. However, local authorities have since refuted these claims.
Chief Olson reported that during the October 10th Frackville Borough Council meeting, Councilman Brian Russell announced that a bus had allegedly dropped off the individuals in the parking lot of the Dutch Kitchen restaurant during the early morning hours. He also claimed that the Chief of Police, Paul Olson, was aware of the incident, implying there was a potential safety risk. These statements quickly spread across social media, stoking fear among residents.
In response, Chief of Police Paul Olson issued an official statement addressing the situation. He emphasized that the reports were entirely unfounded and that no evidence had been found to support the claims.
"These allegations and statements were made with no validity and were pure speculation," Chief Olson said in his statement. "Not only was this irresponsible, but it was dangerous as well."
The Frackville Police Department, in cooperation with local businesses and residents, conducted an investigation and confirmed that no bus had dropped off individuals in the area, and no reports were made to the police department regarding such an incident.
"There is nothing to suggest any safety concern within the community," Olson reiterated. "At no time did the Frackville Police Department receive any reports of anyone being driven to or around the Dutch Kitchen restaurant via bus and dropped off in the community. That statement was blatantly false."
Chief Olson urged anyone with credible information regarding the rumors to contact the Frackville Police Department at 570-628-3792. He also expressed gratitude to the businesses and residents who assisted in the investigation.
Chief Olson reported that during the October 10th Frackville Borough Council meeting, Councilman Brian Russell announced that a bus had allegedly dropped off the individuals in the parking lot of the Dutch Kitchen restaurant during the early morning hours. He also claimed that the Chief of Police, Paul Olson, was aware of the incident, implying there was a potential safety risk. These statements quickly spread across social media, stoking fear among residents.
In response, Chief of Police Paul Olson issued an official statement addressing the situation. He emphasized that the reports were entirely unfounded and that no evidence had been found to support the claims.
"These allegations and statements were made with no validity and were pure speculation," Chief Olson said in his statement. "Not only was this irresponsible, but it was dangerous as well."
The Frackville Police Department, in cooperation with local businesses and residents, conducted an investigation and confirmed that no bus had dropped off individuals in the area, and no reports were made to the police department regarding such an incident.
"There is nothing to suggest any safety concern within the community," Olson reiterated. "At no time did the Frackville Police Department receive any reports of anyone being driven to or around the Dutch Kitchen restaurant via bus and dropped off in the community. That statement was blatantly false."
Chief Olson urged anyone with credible information regarding the rumors to contact the Frackville Police Department at 570-628-3792. He also expressed gratitude to the businesses and residents who assisted in the investigation.