WESTLAKE, Ohio — The story told on Facebook panicked parents. The post claimed, Friday afternoon, a mother and her 1-year-old son were at a Barnes and Noble in Ohio when a woman tried to snatch the little boy.
“We never got a call from anybody, any witnesses, anyone involved at the store or security,” said Captain Jerry Vogel with the Westlake Police Department.
The Facebook post was quickly shared dozens of times and got the attention of Westlake Police.
"It happens very quickly. I was surprised how quickly in this case," said Vogel.
Vogel said officers tracked down the person who posted it.
“Turns out it was not a legitimate post. The facts of that post were not true,” Vogel added.
Police documents show the wife admitted to fabricating the story to her husband. He made the Facebook post to warn others, not knowing the story was not true.
Police said they do not have a motive for the fake post, but they do have a warning about social media.
“Be careful about what you believe on social media,” said Vogel.
The case has now been turned over to the prosecutor’s office to decide if charges will be filed.
