Clay County, MO– Residents in the Gladstone area raised alarms overnight after viral social media posts claimed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were canvassing neighborhoods, prompting fear and confusion across parts of Clay County.
According to Clay County Sheriff Will Akin, those claims are not supported by verified information. In a statement posted Thursday, the sheriff said he confirmed with both local and federal law enforcement partners that no law enforcement activity occurred in the area at the alleged time.
The original post, shared widely on Facebook, claimed ICE agents were knocking on doors in the 64118 and 64119 ZIP codes and included photos of individuals and vehicles described as federal agents. The post quickly spread, drawing thousands of reactions and shares.
Sheriff Akin said his office began reviewing the images and identified multiple inconsistencies that raise questions about their authenticity. Among them: vehicles shown with light bars despite appearing unmarked, inconsistent uniforms among individuals, a lack of visible agency markings, and conflicting backgrounds between photos posted at the same time.
The sheriff also noted no corroboration from neighbors or additional witnesses, no exact location information provided, and environmental details—such as the absence of snow despite near single-digit temperatures—that further undermine the claims. Additionally, only four individuals were shown in the images, which the sheriff said is inconsistent with typical operations involving rifles or tactical gear.
Akin encouraged the original poster to contact him directly to discuss the matter and said he would investigate further if verifiable information is provided.
“I encourage everyone to pause before sharing unconfirmed claims and to rely on verified information from trusted sources,” Akin wrote, adding that the community is strongest when it responds “with facts, calm, and care.”
Residents are urged to follow official law enforcement channels for accurate updates.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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