The Frederick Police Department released two statements on Saturday, regarding a threat to the community that was circulated in a Reddit post. Regarding the post, Frederick Police stated that “an individual claimed that a man stopped them while in Downtown Frederick and made a vague threat of a shooting to occur at an event in May.”
The first statement acknowledged the threat and stated that there will be increased patrols and additional security measures taken by Frederick Police as a precaution. The follow-up statement provides additional clarification, including that the man is now being held in a mental health facility while officials determine if there will be criminal charges, and addresses reasons behind the vagueness of the first statement. The two statements can be seen below:
First statement by the Frederick Police Department: “The Frederick Police Department is aware of a potential threat circulating, which has understandably caused concern within our community. We want to reassure the public that we are taking this matter very seriously.
Upon receiving the information, a police report was immediately filed, and our investigators are actively working to assess the credibility of the threat. We want to emphasize that at this time, there is no imminent danger to the public. We have already identified the individual associated with the alleged threat, and we are taking all necessary measures to address this situation. While we understand the concern that arises from such reports, we urge the community to remain calm.
The safety and well-being of our residents and visitors remain our top priority. We are committed to keeping you informed as the situation develops and strongly encourage anyone with information to come forward and assist us in our investigation.
The Frederick Police Department will be increasing patrols and taking additional security measures as a precaution. Our officers are highly trained to respond to any potential threats, and we are working closely with other law enforcement agencies to ensure a coordinated and comprehensive response.
Thank you for your cooperation and continued support as we work together to keep Frederick safe.”
Follow up Statement by The Frederick Police Department: “We understand that there has been concern and confusion surrounding our recent statement regarding a reported threat to our community. We want to provide clarification and address the reasons behind the vagueness of the initial statement. Our primary goal was to prevent unnecessary panic and avoid potentially escalating the situation further.
Yesterday evening, the Frederick Police Department became aware of a post circulating on the social media platform Reddit. An individual claimed that a man stopped them while in downtown Frederick and made a vague threat of a shooting to occur at an event in May. Immediately upon seeing the Reddit post, which included a photo of the alleged male making threats, our detectives and members of FPD’s crisis response team recognized the individual and were able to make a positive ID. The individual is currently being held at a mental health treatment facility and is not being identified publicly at this time.
The Frederick Police Department is actively consulting with the State’s Attorney’s Office, the FBI, and our local partners to determine if criminal charges are relevant in this case. We want to reassure the community that your safety is our top priority, and we are treating this threat with the utmost seriousness. Our officers are vigilant and proactive, and we are working diligently to ensure that our streets remain safe.”