Dr. Martin Ringstaff
The Cleveland City School Board has called a special emergency meeting after director Dr. Martin Ringstaff halted an investigation he requested into two alleged fake Twitter accounts and then he acknowledged that the messages had been sent by him a year earlier.
The meeting is for noon on Friday at the administrative office building.
The topic is "the director of schools."
The city schools had announced Monday morning that the system was "aware of two fake Twitter accounts that erroneously impersonate Dr. Martin Ringstaff, director of schools."
Officials said, "The accounts have been reported to the Cleveland Police Department; they are investigating and working with Twitter to shut down the malicious accounts."
Persons with information were asked to contact the Cleveland Police.
Then on Monday night this statement was issued from the school headquarters:
"In response to earlier allegations today, Dr. Martin Ringstaff, released the following statement: 'I admit to having made previous mistakes in my personal life. My wife, Heather, and I have worked through these issues and are committed to our family and moving past my mistakes. With the support of the Cleveland City Schools Board of Education, I am dedicated to serving the students of Cleveland.'
"The Cleveland City Schools Board of Education members are in unanimous agreement that we support and respect Dr. Martin Ringstaff and his family. They are valuable to our community. Martin has done above and beyond what he said he would do for Cleveland City Schools, and now we see an opportunity as a board to be who we said we were."
The statement also said:
“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.” 1 Corinthians 15:10 NASB
Cleveland Police on Tuesday said the investigation is over at the request of the school director.
Police said, "On 2-1-16 I Detective Daniel Gibbs # 250 was assigned an incident report (2016-4658). The report was filed by School Resource Officer Bobby Ruth. The report states On 2-1-16 Officer Bobby Ruth responded to the Cleveland City Schools Administration building (4300 Mouse Creek Rd.) to meet with Martin Ringstaff. Mr. Ringstaff stated 'On 1-31-16 there were two different Twitter accounts created using his name. On one of the accounts there is a screen shot of a cell phone with Facebook messages between two people. This screen shot was retweeted to several different other twitter account holders'. Mr. Ringstaff advised Officer Ruth that he did not create these accounts nor did he know who did.
"At 1515 hours I spoke with Martin Ringstaff via phone. We scheduled an interview at 1730 hours when he returned from Nashville. At 1730 hours Martin Ringstaff did not show up or call. At 1836 hours I contacted Martin Ringstaff. He did not answer. I left him a voicemail. At 1925 hours Martin Ringstaff contacted me. He stated 'for the sake of his wife he wishes not to pursue with the criminal investigation at this time, because the messages were from him but sent a year ago'. Mr. Ringstaff did ask could there be a criminal investigation for an incident like this. I stated that’s a possibility but I would need to know who the messages were sent to for a starting point in the investigation. He declined to disclose that to me. At 2044 hours I responded to the Ringstaff residence where Martin Ringstaff signed a non-prosecution form."