Marion police: Allegation that box cutter was thrown at student is unsubstantiated

Marion police say they have not been able to find evidence to back up a report that an open box cutter was thrown at a student representing an LGBTQ student club during Sept. 25’s Linn-Mar High School’s Homecoming Parade.

Jennifer Pitkin — who said she is the mother of 15-year-old Ava, a member of Spectrum, the LGBTQ club at Linn-Mar — said Sept. 25 on Facebook that her daughter and other students who were walking with the LGBTQ club were harassed and threatened by spectators.

Pitkin stated in her post, and on a GoFundMe page that she created to support Spectrum, that someone threw an open box cutter that almost hit her daughter during the parade. She posted a photo of the box cutter she wrote had been thrown.

“After interviewing several students and parade participants, the Police Department has been unable to substantiate the allegation regarding the knife/box cutter being thrown at anyone,” a police news release states. “This appears to be a case of several individuals putting together bits and pieces of information which resulted in an inaccurate portrayal of what occurred.”

The department would not say whether it had substantiated the reports of harassment and threats, but asked that anyone with additional information about the incident contact the police department at (319) 377-1511.

The Linn-Mar Community School District, in a Facebook post published after the police news release was issued, also encouraged anyone with more information to reach out to the police department.

“We believe that every student deserves to feel safe, respected, and valued in our schools, and we want to continue to encourage our students to come forward any time they have information about something that makes them feel unsafe. We also appreciate the Marion Police Department's continued investigation of these reports,” the post states.

In a Facebook post, Pitkin expressed disappointment in the investigation and statement she said portrayed the students as “liars.”

“LGBTQ+ kids are treated as less than human, which was apparent in the investigation, but I still thought the kids would get justice,” Pitkin wrote. “We will continue to trust these kids, and the adult that came forward. Why wouldn't we?”

As of Monday, the GoFundMe page she created to support Spectrum had raised nearly $5,400 of its $7,500 goal.

Comments: (319) 398-8328; emily.andersen@thegazette.com