Man behind Facebook post to ‘burn the school’ tells Riverside police it’s a joke

Wayne D. Foutz  MONTGOMERY COUNTY JAIL

Wayne D. Foutz MONTGOMERY COUNTY JAIL

A 54-year-old Miami Twp. man is jailed, accused of making a terroristic threat against Stebbins High School and the Riverside Police Department.

Wayne D. Foutz posted a comment around 6 p.m. Monday on the Dayton Daily News’ Facebook post regarding the protest planned for Tuesday evening in front of the high school, stating: “Walter Stebbins was a confederate general. Burn the school down to solve racism. Then cross the street and take over the police station.”

RELATED: Protest to be held in front of Stebbins High School Tuesday

The high school’s namesake, Walter E. Stebbins was born long after the end of the Civil War and was an educator and longtime superintendent for the Mad River Local Schools. The high school was renamed for him following his death in 1960.

A Stebbins parent who reported the post to police and said she and other parents are scared for the safety of their children. She told police she believes the post was only up for a few minutes but that it was shared, according to a Riverside police report.

Foutz later posted a second comment: “I made a comment here that was intended to be a joke, making fun of the protesters. It was in bad taste, and I deleted it immediately. Someone saw fit to screenshot it and make it viral. I do not condone violence. Again, it was a dumb joke.”

However, a Riverside police officer who spoke to Foutz told him that the post could incite someone who wants to destroy the school or police department to do so, the report stated.

“Due to there being a planned protest ... at Stebbins High School and marching to the Riverside Police Department these threats are being taken seriously by the public and by the police,” the report stated.

Foutz was arrested at his apartment and booked into the Montgomery County Jail, where he remains without bond awaiting formal charges.

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