900 Missouri residents who ‘snitched’ on lockdown rule-breakers fear retaliation after details leaked online

Gino Spocchia

Hundreds of Missouri residents have had their personal details shared online after the publication of a document that recorded reports made against those flouting lockdown measures.

Some people are now concerned that they will face consequences for ‘snitching’ on coronavirus rulebreakers in St Louis County, Missouri.

It comes after St Louis County authorities called on people to report businesses and persons not following statewide lockdown measures, last month.

The names and addresses of almost 900 people were shared on Facebook to name-and-shame them after authorities had released the data following a media request under the state’s ‘Sunshine Law’, which requires authorities to release information submitted to public agencies.

“I’m not only worried about COVID, I’m worried about someone showing up at my door, showing up at my workplace or me getting fired for doing what is right,’ said a woman named Patricia, who had made a report, to KSDK news.

“When there is something that happens next time, I’m not going to feel safe or protected enough to call the local authorities.”

The complaints resulted in 29 businesses receiving court summons in April, leaving some concerned that they will face dismissal at work after reporting on rule breaking at their own workplace.

“We’re in a society where doing what’s right doesn’t always get rewarded,” added Patricia. “We have to be extra careful because we don’t have the strength to fight this.”

The Missouri resident told KSDK news that she had asked to be made anonymous, but that did not stop the complete publication of the documents.

Jared Totsch, who shared the personal details online, wrote on Facebook: “If they are worried about retaliation, they should have read the fine print which stated their tips would be open public record subject to a Sunshine request, and should not have submitted tips in that manner to begin with”.

“’I released the info in an attempt to discourage such behaviour in the future,” added Totsch, who claimed that those who had ‘snitched’ to local authorities caused job losses to others.

Those comments came despite St Louis County having confirmed the most cases and deaths of Covid-19 in Missouri.

Doug Moore, St Louis County executive’s director of communications, said that details could not be redacted from the document that was shared online.

“In this particular instance, our county counselor’s office consulted with the [attorney general]’s office on releasing the list of those who had filed complaints against county businesses,” Mr Moore told KSDK news.

He added: “Withholding information goes against what journalists push us to be – as transparent as possible.”

Totsch, who has also shared other unfounded claims on Facebook - including one post that called Covid-19 a 'media driven pandemic' - said that he had seen the documents shared on another Facebook group before posting about the ‘snitches’.

It comes as some Missouri businesses begin reopening on Monday.

Last month, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio was criticised over the launch of a messaging service that encouraged New Yorkers to report on those breaking lockdown measures.

The app was shut down within hours, after it was inundated with memes and complaints about Mayor de Blasio.

I’m trying to feel sorry for them but I really don’t.

quote:

Originally posted by 1s1k:
I’m trying to feel sorry for them but I really don’t.

Don't hurt yourself trying...I'm not.

Yet another example of why minding your own fucking business is a wise policy.

Tell 'em, Hank

Karen gets the rewards that she has earned.

Better invest in time machine research, Karen.

quote:

“I’m not only worried about COVID, I’m worried about someone showing up at my door, showing up at my workplace or me getting fired for doing what is right,’ said a woman named Patricia, who had made a report, to KSDK news.

^^^^^^^^^^^
Self righteous individuals. Gotta love 'em. They still think they did the RIGHT thing. Probably the hall monitor in sixth grade.

quote:

The complaints resulted in 29 businesses receiving court summons in April,

As courts haven't had a session on months, by the time they get to these summons they will lose interest and dismiss most of them.

What you get when you fail to mind your own damned business.

I'm amused by the number of people who wrote in that they weren't "essential" but were being told to work anyway.

In the "at-will" state of Missouri, if I were an employer I'd use that as Exhibit 1 in their firing. Sorry, just thinning the non-essential workers from my impacted business.

The mayor of Providence RI was on the radio saying, if you see someone out on the street without a mask on you should publicly shame them. The governor, then said you should leave them alone, and get out of their way. I'm with the governor on this one. If I see someone without a mask on, it's probably easier to get out of the way than to end up in some altercation, which the police will probably say I started.

I can't say I'm unhappy about that

actions have consequences and if you want to get involved, its not just a toe in the water, its all the way

I do hope some people pay the price for being assholes - perhaps its part of the reset of civilization that we need

if they had minded their own business they won't be worried

I think this whole mask thing is cute. A bunch of people who refuse to carry a gun to protect themselves and society lecturing me for being “selfish”.

To protect them from a virus that 99 percent will survive.

And 85 percent will have little or no symptoms.

How cute.

quote:

Originally posted by jljones:
I think this whole mask thing is cute. A bunch of people who refuse to carry a gun to protect themselves and society lecturing me for being “selfish”.

To protect them from a virus that 99 percent will survive.

And 85 percent will have little or no symptoms.

How cute.

The greatest irony I saw just this very morning was a lady in a mini-van with a bumper sticker that said "Fear Builds Walls" as she got out to go for a walk on a trail wearing a mask.

quote:

Originally posted by jljones:
To protect them from a virus that 99 percent will survive.

And 85 percent will have little or no symptoms.

How cute.

^^^This times 1,000. People have lost their damn minds (not that it was a long drive).

here they called the police and it isn't against the law. just a guideline.

Pretty pathetic

The Corvastasi did not realize that in St. Louis County, "Snitches get Stitches".

quote:

Originally posted by dedguy:
The mayor of Providence RI was on the radio saying, if you see someone out on the street without a mask on you should publicly shame them. The governor, then said you should leave them alone, and get out of their way. I'm with the governor on this one. If I see someone without a mask on, it's probably easier to get out of the way than to end up in some altercation, which the police will probably say I started.

I never had a problem with people sneezing or spitting on me in public before this fiasco - I don't care if you have a mask on or not - it does not influence my behavior unless you are a surgeon operating on me.

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:

People have lost their damn minds (not that it was a long drive).

Definitely not a long drive. Not even a short putt.

quote:

Originally posted by dedguy:
The mayor of Providence RI was on the radio saying, if you see someone out on the street without a mask on you should publicly shame them.

Let's take this to its logical end shall we. People are wigged out big time. They're on edge. They aren't happy to put it mildly. As such, we should opt to push them? Kinda like poking a bear or playing with a snake, isn't it? This mayor is a moron and should be held personally responsible for any physical harm that comes to someone who gets their ass kicked over this mask BS.