Chris Flanagan: Latest News

HAVERFORD TOWNSHIP, Pa. - A tool to help schools fight some of their biggest mental health hurdles is working and it’s getting kids the help they need every day. "This is a big deal. It’s a life-saving tool and it’s helping kids out of some tough situations," Radnor Township Police Superintendent Chris Flanagan gives huge props to the Safe2Say app, the anonymous tip line established in 2019 for parents and students to report school threats and violence.But, the Attorney General’s office says 72.9 percent of the 80,000 calls are, actually, about mental health, bullying, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, anxiety and anger."I think this is a huge red flag that everybody has to pay attention to.

RADNOR TOWNSHIP, Pa. - Police across the country are warning parents about the dangers of the Orbeez Challenge as they see a rise in incidents involving the gel pellets and toy guns. In Pennsylvania, four teenagers are in trouble after firing a gel pellet gun at a group of students outside of a middle school. RELATED: Police warn some social media 'challenges' can lead to hackers gaining personal informationLaw Enforcement in Florida is also warning residents about the challenge after a Volusia County woman was struck in the arm walking with her child and three people were hit by pellets in Deltona. Police are warning parents and schools about the dangers of the Orbeez Challenge.  According to police, the Orbeez Challenge is a viral social media trend that encourages people to shoot Orbeez water beads and gel pellets from air guns. Packs of the popular children's toy can come with up to 500 Orbeez and 1500 Orbeez seeds, according to the manufacturer. The gel beads are typically created with water, but many conducting the challenge have begun freezing the beads to intensify their effects. Chris Flanagan, the Superintendent of Police in Radnor Township, Pennsylvania, said the challenge is concerning because the toy guns being used are often altered to look like real weapons. When the challenge was done outside of Radnor Middle School, students and staff began running and the school restricted activity in the area, according to Flanagan. "These challenges seem like they are funny," he says.

Police in Radnor Township are warning about theives stealing items and checks from mailboxes.  RADNOR TOWNSHIP, Pa. - Police in the Pennsylvania suburbs are warning about thefts from mailboxes. According to police, thieves are going through boxes, stealing checks and then cashing in. In Radnor Township, one thief scored big, allegedly taking $25,000. Superintendent Chris Flanagan with the Radnor Police Department said this type of crime is unusual for the department. Authorities say thieves are waiting for residents to raise the red flags on mailboxes that typically alert mail carriers to collect mail. "They'll take them somewhere, alter them and attempt to pass them at a bank related to that account or something they may have, and then they are cashing what we're calling bad checks."The issue is widespread, hitting every corner of the township from Ravenscliffe in Wayne to Boxwood Road in Bryn Mawr. "We are asking residents if you see people in a private vehicle touching or altering or it looks like they are taking mail out of a private mailbox, then we want you to contact us," Flanagan said. Residents are also encouraged to take their mail directly to the post office or send money electronically as a precaution. MORE LOCAL HEADLINES ___DOWNLOAD: FOX 29 NEWS APP | FOX 29 WEATHER AUTHORITY APPSUBSCRIBE: Good Day Digest Newsletter | FOX 29 Philly on YouTubeAdvertisementFOLLOW: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter