A suspect is in custody in connection to threats that were made against several Goodwill stores across Northeast Ohio this week.
Canton Police and the FBI located Giovanni Stanley of Canton, who is now charged with multiple felonies, including making terroristic threats and inducing panic.
According to a release from Goodwill Industries (see below), Stanley is a former employee of the Canton store on Atlantic Boulevard and was hired in September of this year.
Because of the threats Stanley made via email and telephone, Goodwill was forced to close 22 retail stores and five donation centers Tuesday and Wednesday this week. All of the stores except the Canton store on Atlantic are back open today.
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(Goodwill Industries) Canton, OH – December 9, 2021 – An arrest was made today of a suspect in the threats that were made earlier this week to Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio (GIGCECO). The Canton Police Department, with help from the FBI and other law enforcement agencies, have arrested Giovanni Stanley of Canton. He is being charged with making terroristic threats and inducing panic, both felonies.
Stanley was an employee of the Goodwill retail store located at 2630 Atlantic Blvd. in Canton. He was hired in September of 2021 and worked as a donations processor for the agency.
“We are relieved to have resolution to this very difficult incident,” explained President and CEO Anne Richards. “We are incredibly grateful to our local law enforcement who moved quickly to investigate these threats and ultimately make an arrest. Our agency, our staff and the community are so thankful for their persistence.”
Stanley is accused of making anonymous threats by email and phone to Goodwill on Tuesday, December 7 which ultimately forced the agency to close its 22 retail stores and five donation centers on Tuesday and Wednesday. As a precaution, the neighboring Goodwill in Akron also closed its stores and donation centers. Stores outside of Stark County were open normal hours today while police continued to investigate and make this arrest.
All Goodwill stores, with the exception of the Atlantic Blvd location in Canton, will be open tomorrow, Friday, December 10. The Atlantic Blvd. store will reopen Tuesday, December 14 with additional security. Staff at this site will be compensated for time missed. And, those team members will be offered counseling services.
“I think we all can breathe a collective sigh of relief that we have found answers, “ added Richards. “Now we can begin to find our way back to a sense of normalcy and continue to do what we do best…serve the needs of our community.”