VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – A family in Volusia County is urging Sheriff Mike Chitwood and his office to remove a video from Facebook that includes their teenage son’s face.
The video depicts the aftermath of what authorities said was three teens kicking a Deltona woman’s door Sunday night.
“It’s not really ‘Ding Dong Ditch’ if you’re kicking doors,” the post accompanying the video states. “Three teenagers are charged with felony attempted burglary for kicking a Deltona woman’s door last night.”
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As of Tuesday afternoon, the video — which has been posted on the Facebook pages of both Chitwood and the Volusia Sheriff’s Office — has amassed more than 57,000 views.
“I think Chitwood is doing it for his social media platform,” said Nate Barnhart, the father of one of the teens arrested.
Barnhart and his wife, Jennifer Koss, drove to News 6 on Tuesday to speak about their concerns regarding the video.
They said their son, whose face is the only one of the teens’ seen in the video, has been charged as a minor.
“These children are real, living, breathing people,” Koss said.
The teen’s parents said he has been receiving threats from adults since the publication of the video.
“[Chitwood’s] bullying children — is what he’s doing,” Barnhart said.
Koss e-mailed Chitwood Monday, expressing her frustration.
“I am coming to you as a concerned parent,” the email starts. “I fully understand your reasoning behind showing children’s faces on social media to try and correct their bad behavior. The problem is you are going about it the wrong way.”
Koss shared Chitwood’s response with News 6, which reads in part:
“I appreciate your thoughts. However as the elected sheriff, I will follow the letter of the law and I will continue to do what I’m doing.”
Koss objected to Chitwood’s characterization of the matter.
“I don’t understand what law it is that states that he has to put a child’s face on the internet,” Koss told News 6.
The post accompanying the video includes this warning:
“Getting arrested is one likely outcome. Getting shot by a Florida resident protecting their home and family is another.”
News 6 has reached out to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office for comment but we have not heard back as of Tuesday afternoon.
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