Lack of public information continuing pattern of Police Chief Michael Chitwood
DAYTONA BEACH -- A 9-year-old boy brought 23 rounds of ammo Tuesday to Ortona Elementary School at 1265 N. Grandview Ave., but the Daytona Beach Police Department did not post any information about the incident on its "press release" website.
Some area media outlets are being provided information on a regular basis while a news blackout continues against Headline Surfer on orders of Police Chief Michael Chitwood in retaliation for the 24/7 Internet newspaper's awards from the Florida Press Club for its story on Chitwood's promotion of a patrol supervisor last spring despite allegations of mistreatment of women cops under his command.
What kind of ammo or where the boy got it from was not described by any of the media outlets reporting on it. Several parents told Channel 6 news they were upset they were not informed about the incident by the school district.
Several media outlets reported the ammunition was discovered after the boy dropped a bullet on the floor and police were called to the school shortly after 11 a.m.
Headline Surfer met with City Manager Jim Chisholm and Mayor Derrick Henry about Chitwood's behavior and Chisholm aid he would address the situation, but the Internet newspaper hasn't heard from him since the brief meeting.
Chitwood also failed to post a press release on the DBPD's website regarding half a dozen guns reported stolen from motor vehicles throughout the city between Jan. 11-23, including 2,500 rounds of ammunition, though Chitwood gave details to the Daytona Beach News-Journal for a story published Jan. 30.
On Jan. 22, a bookkeeper for the Krispy Kreme, 980 W. International Speedway Blvd., was robbed of $40,000 in the parking lot while preparing to drive to a local bank to deposit the money. That incident was not put on the DBPD's press release website.
On Dec. 10, Chitwood's PIO, Jimmy Flynt, notified all area media, including Headline Surfer, that media outlets would no longer be notified of police related news, but rather itemds of importance would be placed on the department's media website.