No Charges in Racially Charged Post on School Website

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Investigators cannot pinpoint who posted racially charged song lyrics and other offensive items on the county school system’s “Blackboard” website used by students and parents, so no criminal charges will be filed.

Police and the state’s attorney vowed to find whoever posted Aug. 25 on the Severn River Middle School Blackboard, a county-wide website where students and parents log on to check homework and other school-related events. Someone posted lyrics from the “Moonman Notorious” KKK rap remix song, authorities say, as well as other offensive language.

But last week, State’s Attorney Wes Adams said in a statement that the limited storage capacity of the third-party party hosting service for the Blackboard website has prevented investigators from identifying the person who posted the material. While police narrowed the suspects to two households, that isn’t enough to prosecute, he said.

Officers and digital forensic detectives conferred with internet providers and phone companies in an effort to track down the culprit.

“They worked extremely hard to identify the party responsible for the hateful posts placed on Blackboard. Without being able to define a criminal offense, we simply could not take further investigative steps in this case,” said Anne Arundel County Police Chief Tim Altomare.

He said police had “meaningful conversations with both households as to the serious nature of this event.”

Prosecutors, police, the NAACP and school officials condemned what they described as racist speech.

A local NAACP leader said while he is disappointed that a suspect cannot be definitively identified, the incident has re-affirmed efforts to combat racism.

“The limits of legal statutes and technological challenges have prevented us from being able to identify the perpetrator(s) with 100 percent certainty, but everyone touched by this investigation certainly knows they are being watched,” said the Rev. Stephen Tillett, president of the Anne Arundel County NAACP. “As a result of this post, an important conversation has begun amongst these entities and African American community leaders; it is clear that Anne Arundel County law enforcement has placed a high priority on investing all resources to ensure the safety of our citizens, and to help stop racist tirades.”

School officials immediately deleted the post and have worked with Blackboard to improve the security of the website, a release said.

“There is nothing positive or tolerable in the revolting lyrics copied and posted online, and our school system took swift action to delete them and prevent further such postings immediately upon becoming aware of them,” Superintendent of Schools George Arlotto said. “While further action on this matter may not be possible, we will remain vigilant and attentive to these issues, continue to do everything we can to create atmospheres of tolerance and understanding throughout our school system, and quickly address instances where individuals choose to act in opposition to those ideals.”