In Springfield, Ohio, recent claims made by former US President Donald Trump and politician JD Vance regarding Haitian immigrants have been debunked. It was alleged that immigrants were responsible for stealing residents’ pets and even “walking off” with geese in the town. However, new information has come to light revealing that someone has indeed been killing geese in the area, but the culprit is not a Haitian immigrant.
Brian Comer from Springfield was cited last month for shooting two geese at a golf course, as per Clark County Municipal Court filings initially reported by investigative journalist Steven Monacelli. A witness described seeing a middle-aged white male riding a lawnmower, stopping to shoot two geese with a shotgun. Comer admitted to the act, believing he was authorized to do so under a “nuisance permit” for the golf course. Following his arraignment on September 18, Comer pleaded guilty to the charges.
The false claims propagated by Trump and Vance regarding Haitian immigrants have faced strong opposition from Springfield’s police department, city officials, and even Ohio’s Republican governor, Mike DeWine. City Manager Bryan Heck directly refuted the pet-eating rumors when questioned by a Vance representative, confirming there was no factual basis to the claims.
Despite multiple debunkings, Vance continued to promote the conspiracy theory on social media without course correction. He even cited a police report where a resident suspected her cat had been taken by Haitian neighbors, only for the cat, named Miss Sassy, to be found hiding in her own home. The spread of these unfounded allegations has caused fear among the Haitian community in Springfield, with some parents reluctant to send their children to school due to safety concerns.
Efforts to set the record straight continue as Trump’s spokesperson and Comer have been contacted for comments on the matter. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of fact-checking and not succumbing to baseless conspiracy theories that can lead to unwarranted fear and discrimination.