Caller threatens to burn down Families in Crisis
Members of Families in Crisis remain on pins and needles in the wake of a series of telephone threats, fielded after their secret address was mistakenly published in the recent Frontier telephone book.
“We’re scared,” said Shelley Cotten, court advocate for Families in Crisis (FIC). “Our numbers are down because people don’t feel safe here, and neither do we.”
The recent incidents involve one phone call where the unidentified caller threatened to burn the shelter down. Another earlier caller, also unidentified, threatened to “take care of the problem” himself. Both callers pointed out they knew where to find the shelter.
Problems began after the shelter’s address appeared in the Frontier phone book. The location of the shelter had been kept a closely guarded secret for 13 years until that time.
A spokesperson for Frontier blamed the mistake on Ben Lomand telephone, saying Ben Lomand had sent a list from its printing company to Frontier’s. However, both Cotten and Ben Lomand think Frontier is to blame and Cotten said Frontier should be made to pay.
“It was their phone book. Frontier is the one responsible and they should have to cover the cost of additional security because of their actions,” said Cotten, noting the center has installed a 6-foot fence around the shelter. FIC is considering legal action against Frontier.
“The phone company has put us all in danger,” Cotten added. “Our address is out there but there’s nothing we can do because we don’t have the money to move to another location.”
As for the callers, Cotten said police have been advised of the threats and the identities of the suspects, and that FIC will prosecute the callers. In addition, Cotten said any suspect appearing at the shelter will be reported and arrested on the spot.
“We take these threats very seriously. We have to,” Cotten said. “We will prosecute anyone making a threat in a heart beat.”