(BENTON, Ky.) — The Marshall County Sheriff’s Office is urging residents to think twice before believing what they see on unofficial social media pages covering local incidents, saying inaccurate posts have caused unnecessary fear in the community in recent days.
Officials specifically called out AI-generated pages that report on school and community incidents, stressing that these accounts are not official law enforcement sources. According to the Sheriff’s Office, information shared on such pages is often inaccurate, incomplete, or missing key context.
One example cited by officials: a post that circulated Thursday describing an “attack on a school bus.” After deputies investigated, they determined the incident was actually two boys horseplaying — not an attack. By the time the facts came out, the original post had already alarmed parents and community members.
The Sheriff’s Office also pointed to recent posts about an alleged stabbing that, officials say, never happened.
“We understand that people want timely information about what is happening in their community,” the Sheriff’s Office said. “However, unverified social media reports should not be relied upon as fact.”
Officials say they will continue to release accurate, verified information to the public when doing so won’t interfere with an active investigation or put responding deputies at risk.
“Thank you for helping keep Marshall County safe, informed, and calm,” the Sheriff’s Office said.
