Stillwater Police Dispel Threat Rumors Ahead Of Rawhide Festival

Rumors are spreading online right now about threats against officers and security threats for the upcoming Rawhide Festival in Stillwater. 

Wednesday, September 9th 2015, 11:27 pm

By: News 9


Rumors are spreading online right now about threats against officers and security threats for the upcoming Rawhide Festival in Stillwater. Police want to set the record straight.

Stillwater Police want people to know there will be a heavy police presence at the concert, and as far as they know there have been no threats against officers.

Organizers are expecting thousands to pack the Tumbleweed Amphitheater this weekend.

Hip-Hop stars 2-Chains, Fetty Wap, and T-Pain will headline Rawhide Fest Friday and Saturday night.   

It's a concert organizers say has grown in size significantly over the past three years. But rumors may have some thinking twice before heading to Stillwater for the big event.

“Social media and those rumors certainly play a role in that,” said Kyle Gibbs, Stillwater PD.

Warnings are floating around Facebook saying groups are attending the concert and those groups have made threats about "killing cops and doing drive-by's."

One person told her Facebook friends she was told by the sheriff's office "to avoid town Friday and Saturday nights."

“With the advent of social media, which has certainly come about in my career, it’s a growing challenge,” said Gibbs.

Captain Gibbs says Stillwater PD has never heard of such a threat and neither has the Payne County Sheriff's office.

He says there will be increased patrols as there normally would be with any big event or concert as well as full crews on duty.

Event organizers also say they're stepping up security, adding pat downs and metal detectors.

“Prepare for the worst, and hope for the best, but so far we’ve been very fortunate that these events come and go and everybody has a good time, and that’s the end of it,” said Gibbs.

Captain Gibbs also tells News 9 if they were to receive any type of threats against their officers they would take them seriously.

Rawhide Festival kicks off Friday night.

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