Bellaire Officials Refute Needle Claim at Circle K Gas Station
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BELLAIRE -- Local officials said they have received no complaints matching a social media posting regarding needles allegedly being found at a local gas station.
A recent Facebook posting claimed that needles were found inside the gas pump handles at the Circle K gas station in the village of Bellaire. However, local health officials said they have not received any complaints regarding this.
"The sanitarians noticed on the web, but we have not received any calls about it or from anyone directly affected. It is truly sad if someone is actually doing this," said Rob Sproul, deputy health commissioner for the Belmont County Health Department.
Sproul added since there are so many hoaxes perpetuated on social media the health department tends to wait for a call regarding matters.
"This would be more of a police issue really. We would tell a person to consult their physician on care," he said.
A manager at the Circle K on Friday said they could not comment on the rumors, but noted offhand that it was it was "laughable." Company officials could not be reached for comment Friday.
Bellaire police Chief Richard "Dick" Flanagan said his department has not received any reports regarding needles in gas pump handles at the gas station. However, Flanagan said his department does not respond to rumors on social media.
"My guys aren't even allowed on social media. … You have to come to the police department and report it," Flanagan said. "You could have Jimmy Hoffa in the truck of your car right now I wouldn't (care) because it wasn't called in to the police department."
This is not the first store in the area to have rumors attached to it on social media in recent memory. The most recent recipient was the Dollar General in Martins Ferry. Some claimed on social media that a rat was found inside the building, leading to its temporary closure.
A sign on the building said it is closed for unforeseen maintenance issues. Company officials declined to comment on the rodent rumor, but a worker at the store said no rats were found inside, just once in an outdoor Dumpster.
Regarding needles inside pump handles, a quick search of the Internet for "needles inside gas pump handles" makes such a claim look like an urban legend. Such claims are being made across the country.