FULL INTERVIEW: Volusia County sheriff buckles down on comments about kids making threats at schools

Volusia County Sheriff Michael J. Chitwood said the county has made 11 arrests related to students making threats against schools. Chitwood talked about the implications of these threats and the how the sheriff's office is combating this issue.

[@xreediculousx]

If a parent opposes this they are probably one of those at risk of being perp walked themselves.

[@David_in_Michigan]

NO ONE that EVER makes a threat to a school should EVER be allowed back in a public school… why would anyone ever allow someone like that even near a school

[@mamiemartinson4649]

YEAH, these kids shouldn't get back quickly. BUT IF a young person can get deprogrammed, and really moved into a healthy mindset, then it's like bringing adults back into society. It takes time but kids can make changes if they get better education and support.

[@itsablessingbeinganamerica1401]

School to Prison pipeline! Government puts kids back in classrooms instead of sending them to jail or treatment. SMH

[@mamiemartinson4649]

@@itsablessingbeinganamerica1401 Sometimes a kid has been fully indoctrinated but if out from under bad influence can get real information and learn to not behave that way. It takes time, but humans aren't born bad (with rare exceptions) And young people are more likely to be open to change because they aren't fully set in their ways sometimes. Still shouldn't be back until real change is made. Too dangerous for other kids.

[@itsablessingbeinganamerica1401]

@@mamiemartinson4649 Good point! Still these children who made any type of treats should not be entered back at schools. Parents should homeschool them or do online. Not safe for the rest of children at schools.

[@Dzztzt]

Maybe allowing people to access social media without any education of how it works wasn't the best path forward.

[@joshuaerickson2458]

Criminals will always have access to social media, dont blame law abiding children

[@maryanderson9191]

I have no problem with Chitwood calling these kids "little bastards".

[@MikeHuntingford]

100% Support Sheriff Chitwood's position on this!

[@TELEVISIONARCHIVES]

Not me. Posting the photos of someone that young is not good.

[@james-x8p2f]

@@TELEVISIONARCHIVES WRONG

[@MikeHuntingford]

@@TELEVISIONARCHIVES Why?

[@MikeHuntingford]

We disagree

[@james-x8p2f]

@@MikeHuntingford Disagree with what?

[@bradbradshaw-i4n]

i live in volusia county and i'm on your side sheriff. make sure the parents get a bill for all cost.

[@itsablessingbeinganamerica1401]

100%

[@Kristi-j7t]

The general population student body are terrorized. An improv group went through our schools last year. The teachers were so grateful. " These kids NEED to be REMINDED that school is a place to have fun! To be able to RELAX, kids aren't living that life like we did! Like we could." She was hiding tears.

[@NO-GAMES]

Kids will tend to emulate the worst behavior they witness in adults, and not necessarily the parents, it's across the board all adults,including presidents, congressman, corrupt officials, celebrities. All make poor examples for youths.

[@bobjacksob]

I was born cruel and crazy raised with great mentors and parenting.

[@bobjacksob]

I bet you make excuses for your kids and contribute more to social fragmentation. Your type are the worst cancers of society. The excuse makers and deniers.

[@CarolBaucum]

Oh bless u. When I've seen the behavior of N.POLISE..HER WORDS. HE 6:48 R HATRED. HER SICKING BEHAVOR. TELEIVISED..OVER AND OVER..HER HATRED AND SINKING STUPIDITY 4 ALL TO SEE INCLUDING CHILDREN..

[@anydaynow11]

anyone who is against what this police officer has done to protect his community is a box of rocks

[@annedouglas9769]

What is his telling residents to write down addresses of people with Harris signs have to do with protecting kids???

[@annedouglas9769]

Wait! Is this Ohio or FL? If it’s FLAT I may have to apologize, thinking this was Ohio!

[@TELEVISIONARCHIVES]

You don't know his history.

[@liamwatson5125]

You cannot insult the sheriff.

[@anydaynow11]

​@@TELEVISIONARCHIVES What transpired in his past?

[@susanwilson1962]

Finally consequences for the wrongs done. Now there will be changes.

[@2chuck]

The kids need help, get them to Professional Councilors, Perp walk the Parents!

[@lbthingsstuffmore9513]

Sheriff Chitwood, you're an American Hero! We need this tough love, law and order, and consequences. And please, lock up those parents who don't get it, too! We're behind you, sir! 💕🇺🇸

[@Les0682]

They have no relationship with their parents. Its sad to see neglectful parents who are with their kids everyday.

[@Flippy_808]

Yes this! I believe algorithms on social media are also to blame, causing mental issues and depression in these kids 😕

[@Cas65082]

I went to my son’s high school in the morning when the kids were entering the main entrance. The main office is there. As I sat and waited for my appointment I was shocked at the behavior the school allowed. Cussing, hitting, clothing and lack of, cellphones, graphic rap music playing. All walking right by the head office. Sorry but I don’t think they set standards of acceptable behavior.

[@Kristi-j7t]

It started when paddling/ spanking and prayer left and cell phones, no discipline and vending machines entered.

[@onthehill-t2u]

@@Kristi-j7t I agree!!!

[@bobjacksob]

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PARENTS RIGHT???

[@Cas65082]

@@bobjacksob no, it was the students entering school behaving this way.

[@bobjacksob]

@@Cas65082 So the students are taught to act this way at school but are parented at home and don't act this way with mother and father?

[@karinagflores5354]

What about punishing the parents?

[@bobjacksob]

Do you think a bare butt to hand firm flogging would be appropriate?

[@2thomask]

​@@bobjacksobget a switch or belt

[@DeniseWill2]

Grady Judd needs to speak out with this sheriff! This was great that Chitwood spoke out.

[@mamiemartinson4649]

IF the parents love these children, they will get them mental health assistance to find better solutions that get them off this horrible path. If the parents themselves are broken, the kids and parents will both need help and the parents should be held accountable.

[@brendabrazell2556]

When they get out and go home , take all computers out of the home and take the childs phone ,and charge the parents everytime the cops have too close schools down.

[@itsablessingbeinganamerica1401]

100%

[@TraciWatson-x6c]

Because of the parent’s attitude and the parents not paying attention to the children! The children are paying more attention to the things going on around them than the parents understand! All of the negative news and the negative impact of the teachers saying if they think they are a boy when they are a girl! Mixing up their mind and emotions. Not one positive stability for them to stand on! 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

[@ohgawd]

Omfg you're drinking orange flavor-aid by the gallon!

[@tina-mariecrocker5687]

Very well said

[@itsablessingbeinganamerica1401]

Exactly

[@barbarastephens9753]

Any idea who's teaching middle schoolers to act this disgusting?

[@Mike_Genisys]

Parents.

[@emmap1159]

Video games

[@jam258420]

Parents

[@tina-mariecrocker5687]

Parents, social media, TV, movies, video games

[@ct92404]

Gun nut parents

[@carola7539]

Thank you Sherriff Chitwood, the best!

[@Cas65082]

I’m not one for more regulation but social media has been a detriment to the youth of this country.

[@ruthieanderson2368]

Thank you sheriff Chitwood!!!!

[@Peeter8]

Are parents allowed to bring the belt nowadays? My mom put the fear of God on my brothers and I growing up.

[@emmap1159]

The authority was taken away from parents by the same group that tells them they are now responsible. You can't have it both ways.

[@Jim_CSI]

Yea, thanks President Bill Clinton.

[@bonniejohnsonbatten664]

It’s the parents responsibility to control their children. They need be held financially responsible and when that fact is law, maybe it will snap some common sense back into parenting

[@liamwatson5125]

Time and resources are being wasted everyday, and schools are becoming dangerous.

[@megsley]

super weird how kids were way better behaved when parents still used corporal punishment. now, we have kids talk endlessly about their feelings and the kids are more violent and disrespectful than ever.

[@lynnkalles2055]

Take away their cell phones and limit tv. Square box syndrome. Kids need to be taught how to play like we did in the 60s and 70s 😊

[@tina-mariecrocker5687]

Exactly. Well said

[@Moon..Shadow]

Fine the parents/guardians too! Insist on Better Parenting classes Mental Health therapy for the families... dad too or he goes to jail. Go find him! I'm just day dreaming.

[@skippykaufman4436]

Kids - we have them, we name them, you all take it from there. When will parents be held responsible?

[@liamwatson5125]

Too dangerous for therapy.

[@KeivaJones-nf3jd]

I agree. Get the absent fathers too.

[@CarolBaucum]

SHERIFF, THANK YOU...FOR STEPPING UP AND GETTING PEOPLE AWARE AND Dealing With these little S. O.B.s. starts at home....your a hero ❤

[@Goldenheart2911]

This interview was so different from the press conference held last week and I applaud both of these men for their efforts in choosing to keep the conversation going and to face some of the tough questions head on together in an effort to explore the whole picture instead of just parts of it. ✨ I can completely empathize with you Sheriff. 💛 When people see what they see in their jobs it can be extremely challenging not to bring that home with them and want to do anything and everything possible to keep their families and community safe.✨ In life we all don’t have to agree with one another on everything and yet when we choose to come together to listen to one another’s thoughts, perspectives and ideas with an eye and ear towards finding solutions from a nonjudgmental and open-minded perspective it’s amazing how productive and transformational the discussion can actually become.✨ Everyone wants to do what’s in the best interest of the children here and when you can take a step back and put the emotion aside as difficult as that often is we are able to see things with such greater clarity.✨ Sheriff Chitwood, although I don’t agree with all of your methods, your idea of making it mandatory for the children who make these threats and their parent/guardian to sit down with a family member that has lost a loved one in a school shooting, a surviving victim, or the shooter themselves if they would agree to it, could be both cathartic and beneficial to everyone involved in more ways then one and is an excellent idea. 👏 I also commend Erik Avanier for bringing up the topic of bullying and the media in this conversation.👏 While I agree 💯 with the Sheriff that you can absolutely blame a child and hold them and in some cases like in Georgia the parent accountable for bringing a weapon into school it is still important to understand how they got to that point to help prevent it from happening with others again in the future.✨ May God Bless both of these men and please continue to help them do their jobs to the best of their ability along the way.🙏✨💛

[@tcmyers9130]

I tried opening a center for children. Neighbor wouldn't even let me get on my property. I have to visit 3 o'clock in the morning. This is on you Chitwood. To this day I have yet to see a cop. You & your detectives & deputies are worthless. The enforcement of tailgating is over. Even law enforcement does it. These kids are seeing how adults act & law enforcement just turns their back. Children run from the police

[@michelledubose2391]

Making threats is against the law for kids or law enforcement

[@surpriseimblack]

54 tips in a 24-hour period !!!!!!!!!

[@bodhi1462]

Maybe it's an elementary thing but i teach 7-12 and never heard of the bathroom thing. Instill self-confidence in your kid to keep them from being bullied. Self-confidence is bully-spray. Parents instill self-confidence in their kids, not anybody else abd absent fathers can't do that. 😢

[@20SillyGoose]

This guy for president

[@paulog516]

It's always been true. There's that small percent in any group that stirs the pot and tries to ruin it for everyone else. Make an example of these few bad actors, regain sanity and peace. If the bad acting few are caught and corrected immediately, you also save their lives from ruin.

[@jenna2431]

He needs to remember due process and a presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law.

[@peggycarruthers8777]

So very sad.

[@ronwheeler7788]

Making death threats is a crime. Its time these kids find out what goes with the threat on the other end of it.

[@morganmccarthur1633]

Jacksonville Florida enough said.

[@atomicfusionvideo]

Wrong volusia county

[@kabrinofonzarelli1894]

We also need to hold school bullies accountable! They are a part of some of these issues too! Too many of these individuals that have committed acts of mass violence, have a history of being bullied as well. This is an all around issue where all parties involved need to be held accountable.

[@doloresturnwall3200]

Disgusting. It’s so easy to put the onus on a child, instead of holding the parents accountable. Moron sheriff being a bully to a child.

[@MelanieClaire61]

Makes his appendage hard. They get off on this

[@KevinKilgorepage]

you , the state, has taken away the ability to "parent" and claimed the children "belong to the state" , until its time to blame someone when things go wrong

[@voxpopuli905]

100%

[@surpriseimblack]

Interesting take 🤔

[@blarmosanchez2593]

Typical.

[@voxpopuli905]

@@blarmosanchez2593 typical cuz that is the results of government social parasites since the dawn of time. Government is a disease masquerading as the cure.

[@KevinKilgorepage]

yes you can find the quotes on the internet, and they want to allow children to get a s-x-trans-formation without consent and take away your child if you disagree, how can a person POSSIBLY parent in these times ?

[@angelabarnes7588]

Maybe talk to the families of the victims and see if any of them are willing to come in and talk to these kids. Also, maybe have an assembly on mental health and where to go for help in all of the schools.

[@heatherharper3406]

We had nuclear driils, fire drills, tornado drills......something has gone wrong......social media......hhhhmmmm ??????

[@joshuaerickson2458]

The 1st amendment protects the right to social media, shall not be infringed!!

[@susanwilson1962]

Can you publish these minors on TV news? I've always seen them blur their faces.

[@MelanieClaire61]

Open for a lawsuit. This man thinks he's above the law. No surprise there

[@GeraldineFuller]

Keep up the good work.

[@BobbiTopacio]

Let me tell you if my son had done this his dad would have show him the error of his thinking what the hell has happened to dicipline at home

[@surpriseimblack]

Not the bus driver and the nurse! 😭😅 💀⚰️

[@Nod.Phanus]

Lol, "punch them in the face." Zero sense of irony. As if some of these kids aren't standing up to bullies in the heroic motifs they've been handed, and this guy suggests that responding with violence in the motif of his day isn't part and parcel of the problem. Insane.

[@TJMORGAN101]

Why not just outlaw all social media apps such as Instagram, Snap Chat ect, just like how TikTok may be banned in the US.

[@sircampbell1249]

Stop wasting TAXPAYERS money

[@Moon..Shadow]

The parents can make payments or lose any benefits. Something must change!

[@marytomlinson4270]

kids and their safety are always a waste of money

[@surpriseimblack]

​@marytomlinson4270 54 tips in a 24-hour period is a waste of money

[@surpriseimblack]

54 tips in a 24 our period is a waste of money

[@wordnerd2005]

We need smaller schools with an officer metal detectors. Schools of about 100 students where teachers can safely teach. 8 or 10 of these schools can be combined for athletics , band , etc. Schools are simply too big and out of control. Need a few strong men to teach , possibly armed. Too much bullying and other dynamics for these huge schools. Definitely need more structure. Also , a lot of these kids are not getting an education. I like a lot of what the sheriff is saying.

[@surpriseimblack]

These aren't even real threats these are like hoaxes

[@loraroark3327]

Participation trophy for every one...equity

[@bobjacksob]

bet you they are a certain race and have high earning parents from the north.

[@Cody-pn8wy]

School shootings are a white kid activity, usually. There's only two cases I can remember that the person wasn't white. The VT shooter, and then a kid in a Colorado (I don't remember all of the details.) highschool who didn't even get to fire a shot off before a football coach stopped him.

[@sharihuber940]

One think one toy it one scotch tape around it have ask good sheriff . The rest are paintballs Orange tips give it away. I think the magazines are for paintballs. I don’t know what they look like.. White is for the game Nintendo every kid has that one. Yeah, he like your typical killer. I think if you get him graffiti all the way Good luck with the judge you’re Not supposed to put a kid face up tv it’s not Illegal he’s a juvenile.

[@MrGaborseres]

🥺

[@sharihuber940]

Paintball gun I think you can get a for graffiti

[@cj415guerrero]

I’m a bible taught humanist but I still stand with Israel. It’s only right that Israel has peace.

[@gradyturner3367]

wheres the discussion about strengthening the security of our school campuses with more police/security personell? or letting ( only those whom volunteer) teachers conceal carry? PLUS everything the sheriff said

[@estelareyesreyes3174]

Keep it up👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@sidhedances8582]

❤

[@jimmaya810]

Huge tell on the amount of mental programming in games, media, etc and the lack of God in the hearts of the parents and children..

[@Cody-pn8wy]

Stop blaming media for the lack of actual parenting.

[@Cody-pn8wy]

Stop blaming media for the lack of real parenting. How many violent movies have you watched? Have you ever gone and killed someone after? No? Then clearly, media has nothing to do with psychopaths who want to kill people going off and killing people.

[@AcmePotatoPackingPocatello]

Secret Service Edsel group

[@tina-mariecrocker5687]

Soooooo, the govt says you cannot discipline your child and when said child acts up blame the parents. Cray cray

[@ct92404]

Beating with a wooden stick is NOT "discipline"

[@iMatti00]

I disagree that the government says you can’t discipline your children. I don’t want to analyze you from a distance based on one comment, but some people I’ve just heard this through the grapevine and so it implants in their mind without it actually being true. Or maybe there’s a couple cases somewhere where people are arrested for some thing that’s on the margins.

[@MelanieClaire61]

This man should go work for Putin.

[@iMatti00]

No. And we should jump to yelling “Putin” for everything. Then it is the boy who called wolf.

[@chiggins4399]

Flustrated?

[@JoanMurray-j5y]

Learn to SPELL !!!!

[@Moon..Shadow]

It's a learned behavior from the Democratic role models! It must be fixed!

[@onthehill-t2u]

Nah, it’s learned from Trump and his lackeys, spouting hate and retribution.

[@marytomlinson4270]

funny, almost all the school shooters had republican parents...ooops...

[@TheaterPup]

😂

[@iMatti00]

🤦‍♂️ ~ The sheriff’s idea doesn’t seem that bright to me. Not only would he not perp walk his own grandchildren if they made a threat, now let us try to think logically instead of emotionally about if what he’s doing is really going to help. It’s obviously going to hurt the kids life to have their face and name plastered everywhere. Especially when over 99% of them I just mouthing off. That’s what kids do. But of course hurting a kids life is perfectly acceptable if we’re going to help society by saving other kids. So the question we have to ask is it really going to help. I say probably not. Do you think kids are fine with going to juvenile detention and being arrested and having all of the problems that come along with it, but they’re really gonna be scared because their face is gonna be put on television? In fact, it could be something the kids like because they get to be infamous. It might make them look tough to other kids. But of course most people in the comment section and the sheriff are jumping up and down about what a great idea this is. I will submit it is because they are emotionally reacting to this problem. They want to feel like something is being done to solve it, but just acting like a tough guy and just deciding to do something because you think it’s better doesn’t actually mean it is better in reality. But people want to feel like somethings being done. But I wanna be clear to anybody that believes reading between the lines is appropriate for me, I say exactly what I mean to the excess, as you can see. So just because I believe people think emotionally and that we need to think logically does not necessarily mean I’m right. I could be wrong. Somebody can think emotionally and coincidentally come to the right answer, and someone can try to think logically with facts and they can end up being wrong. But critical thinking and being an adult means using a process to come to the best answer the most amount of times, not just winging it with the first emotional thought that comes to our mind.b

[@iMatti00]

🤔 @8:59 ~ The sheriff talks about how a parent will post on social media like they know something even when they were directly told by law enforcement that it came from overseas. My question is does this sheriff support a certain politician that constantly spreads rumors that are proven and false? And the same politician is one that has never told his supporters to stop being modern-day “brown shirts“ by attacking people who speak out against the dear leader? Like when people spoke out against the dear leaders lies in 2020 and they literally had to have police protection because of all the threats of violence coming toward that official and their family. And there’s a whole list of similar things I could mention, but if someone doesn’t know about them then they’re not trying to learn.

[@iMatti00]

So any external shooter now knows that you can’t just go in the bathroom and peek under the stalls to see if there are any feet under any of the stalls real quick, you have to check each door because there could be kids hiding in there. What an intelligent sheriff. You don’t think some of the second visuals are going to watch a few videos and see him constantly mentioning how kids are supposed to stand on the bathroom toilet? But I will say the first thing that came to my mind is that go in the bathroom and putting your feet up is very possible security theater. Almost surely it is. So the sheriff telling that is not necessarily a big disadvantage. But that said, it absolutely could work if the shooter is in a hurry.