CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A Chillicothe Park and Recreation employee held three kids against their will by locking them in the public restroom in Yoctangee Park.
On Thursday, Chillicothe Police were sent to the public restroom in Yoctangee Park. According to police reports obtained by the Guardian, officers with the Chillicothe Police met Jeff Kritzwiser, a city employee, who said he was holding a group of children locked in a bathroom because they had been smoking marijuana.
Kritzwiser told police that he was working when he noticed a strong smell of marijuana coming from the men’s restroom. He went on to say that he “assumed” that the children were the ones smoking the marijuana, the reports reads.
Reports stated that Kritzwiser locked the kids, ages 11, 12, and 14, in the public restroom until police arrived. Officers said the children were still locked inside when they arrived.
Chillicothe Police Officer Samantha Taczak advised Kritzwiser that he could not do that. Taczak noted in the report that “Kritzwiser became agitated with that statement.”
When asked why he locked the three kids inside the restroom, Kritzwiser told police that “he did not want the kids to take off on their bikes before they arrived.”
Officers ordered the employee to unlock the door and release the children immediately. All three kids, officials say, denied smoking marijuana. Reports state that there was no evidence indicating that they were smoking marijuana or destroying any park property.
The report outlines that a parent to one of the children arrived at the park and was extremely upset with what had happened to her child. The Guardian contacted Ross County Prosecutor Jeff Marks to see if the city employee would face charges for kidnapping or unlawful retraining. Marks said his office had not been forwarded anything from law enforcement.
“My son definitely was traumatized. My boys just recently lost their dad. When the incident happened I was at work,” said mother Amanda Grooms. “My son who is 16, by the way, was having a panic attack. I was very irrate. He had no right to lock my kids in the bathroom. My other son was left outside the bathroom. The worker tried to give every excuse for why he locked them in but had zero proof my children had done anything.”
Criminal defense attorney Brad Jones said that the employee violated the law.
“Smoking pot is a misdemeanor, and in most cities, a minor misdemeanor. These are children,” Jones said. “What kid didn’t smoke when they were a teen? This park employee has opened himself up to felony charges and the city is likely to be sued by the families of these children. This is a serious, traumatic violation of the law.”
Bill Bonner, Director of the Chillicothe Parks and Recreation Department, said the city is looking into the matter.
“We are looking into this matter internally and have no comment at this time. Once we have all the facts and they are clear, we will make a comment.”