BY KYLE PERROTTI “This is happening in the home,” N EWS E DITOR Trantham said. s increasing child abuse rates continue “We have 26 open child abuse cases, and to plague many homes in Haywood that’s just this year,” he added. “We’re County, a recent red herring took hold almost through April, and that’s just us at on social media, leading the Waynesville the Waynesville Police Department.” Police Department and Haywood County There may be multiple reasons for the Sheriff ’s Office to investigate an alleged increase in abuse that are tied to the lockhuman trafficking ring that doesn’t seem to downs mandated amid the coronavirus exist. pandemic. First, families simply spent more It all started as a series of posts from a time in the home together while drug and blogger based out of Buncombe County alcohol abuse rates rose sharply. Second, as that indicated without evidence that child Trantham noted, the mandatory reporting trafficking tied to the homeless community statute that requires those in the school sysmay be occurring in the area. Once the post tem to inform authorities of suspected was shared numerous times on Facebook, abuse simply doesn’t work when kids aren’t WPD and HCSO began receiving calls. in class. After investigating, the departments put out a joint statement. It begins by noting that April is Child Abuse Awareness Month and acknowledging the importance of protecting all children in the community but quickly gets to the matter at hand. “Recently the Haywood County Sheriff ’s Office and Waynesville Police Department were made aware of reported incidents involving the trafficking of children in this area,” it reads. “While “We have no children currently missno specifics or creditable leads were provided, Law ing, and we have no reports of kidEnforcement has followed up on these reports and napping or attempted kidnapping.” deemed them to be — Lt. Tyler Trantham unfounded and unsubstantiated. In addition, there are no active investigations involving missing children nor have For Trantham and his fellow investigathere been any reports of these incidents.” tors, it’s important to remind people that WPD Lt. Tyler Trantham heads up the internet rumors aren’t always true, but it’s Criminal Investigations Division. He reiteralso important to ensure people don’t feel ated what the statement said and noted that hesitant to come forward with any concerns while there may be other criminal activity they may have. occurring at certain camps, there’s no evi“We don’t want to discredit anybody’s dence of human trafficking. feelings or reactions to anything they see or “We have no children currently missing, hear, but I would say that we’re going to and we have no reports of kidnapping or respond and find out to the best of our abiliattempted kidnapping,” Trantham said. ty what’s going on in any case,” Trantham The recent false kidnapping reports said. “If the claims unfounded or unsubstanecho previous rumors that circulated on tiated then they are, but if we find evidence social media regarding trafficking, includof crime occurring, whatever that may be, ing a couple of years ago when parents we’ll take steps to handle that situation.” became concerned that children may be tar“We also solve a lot of cases based on geted in public places. what people see on Facebook,” he added. “We have no evidence of that happening “Social media is a great resource. I would in fields behind Walmart or underneath say that if you see or have concerns about bridges,” Trantham said. something, let us know.” However, Trantham did note that WPD The joint statement concluded by has seen an increase in child abuse cases encouraging anyone with information not tied to those camps. In fact, the abuse regarding any and all abuse of children call investigators see most often occurs behind Haywood County Crimes Stoppers at closed doors in the places children should 877.922.7463. Both WPD and HCSO also feel safest. have anonymous tip portals online.
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Social media rumors fuel false child trafficking concerns
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