Montpelier 'car-jacking' rumor dispelled
Toolbox
Times Argus Staff - Published: November 24, 2008
MONTPELIER – Faster than the speed of light is the speed of rumor in the age of the Internet, as Montpelier residents found out last week.
Due to an accidental e-mailing, an unfounded rumor about a series of car-jackings in the capital city began making the rounds via e-mail. Because the original e-mail was attributed to the Montpelier Police Department, it created a good deal of confusion. Here's the real scoop.
"Our administrative assistant got an e-mail from a friend in Connecticut. It supposedly came from a Connecticut police officer. It's not even confirmed," said Ken Christman, the dispatcher for Montpelier police.
The administrative assistant, Luann Brownell, meant to forward it to a friend as a personal e-mail, but mistakenly sent it out "almost like a police department issue, confusing everybody and creating almost mass panic.
The e-mail, basically, most of it's false," Christman said. There's a message on the police department's information line – 802-223-3442, extension 47 – that explains the mix-up.
Here's what it says: "This is the information line for the Montpelier Police Department, and I am the administrative assistant for the department. My name is (Luann) Brownell, and if you are listening to this message, it's because you're inquiring about an e-mail that you received in regards to car-jackings. Please be advised the e-mail was forwarded to our department from a K-9 cop in Connecticut.
"I went ahead and copied and pasted it and sent it out to some folks. In return they forwarded it to others. The e-mail is unfounded and unsubstantiated. Please do not forward it. There is no problem with carjacking in Montpelier." Brownell apologizes for the confusion.
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