After nearly two weeks of receiving complaints about a man claiming to be selling children’s books in the community, officials say there is nothing to warrant an investigation. In fact, Sgt. Chad Hill of the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department said the book seller – identified as Valentin Karabozhikov, educational consultant for Southwestern Advantage – visited the sheriff’s department of his own volition Friday morning to introduce himself and provide a business card. Karabozhikov’s visit to authorities came on the heels of rumors circulating on the Internet and elsewhere about a possible child abduction ring that may be operating in the area. Reports of men going door-to-door selling children’s books as a rouse to stake out homes and abduct children have prompted several complaints from county residents. Law enforcement agencies across the country have received similar complaints in recent weeks. Many of those cases were resolved the same way, with the salesman – often Slavic or European, and often working for Southwestern Advantage – coming forward to law enforcement or media outlets. Fears were compounded through email forwards, Facebook posts and online blogs. A report by indiananewscenteronline.com notes that one blog – found at knowthelies.com/node/9257 – used a photo of one-time Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean knocking on a door to illustrate its article. Fact-checking site snopes.com weighed in Aug. 7, debunking the widespread claims. Sgt. Hill said that while residents should be vigilant, police have taken appropriate measures to determine if an investigation is warranted in Kosciusko County. “We don’t have any information that anything criminal has occurred,” Hill said. Further, he said that while it is the sheriff’s department’s duty to protect its citizens, the department must also protect the rights of people who are permitted to sell materials in the county. While the recent rumors of a child abduction ring are unfounded, Hill advises citizens who are still wary of door-to-door salespeople to simply refuse to answer the door.
