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Marci Piltz, Record-Courier staff writer, reports:

Five teenage girls allegedly playing a game they learned about on the Internet could face criminal charges after leaving 17 suspicious packages throughout Ravenna.

The first suspicious package was reported around 7:15 a.m. Friday when a passerby flagged down a passing officer regarding a strange box on the steps of Immaculate Conception Church, ., according to Ravenna Police Chief Randall McCoy. The box was wrapped in gold paper and had black question marks painted on the sides.

Church employees told officers they had no idea what the package was and were not aware of any packages of this nature having been left at the church before.

The Portage County Hazardous Materials Unit was contacted, along with the Portage County Sheriff’s Department Bomb Detection Unit. The HAZMAT team checked for radiation and chemical warfare agents, none of which were detected.

McCoy said at the same time agents were dealing with the situation at Immaculate Conception, more calls came in to the Ravenna Police Department that other similar packages were being found in various locations.

Those locations included the Portage County Courthouse, where four packages were found; Deluxe Pastries, where one package was found; at Cherry Way and Main Street, where two packages were found; Reed Memorial Library, where five packages were found; Ravenna High School, where three packages were found; and at Sanford and Main streets, where one package was found, for a total of 17 packages.

The package at Immaculate Conception was opened by emergency response officials and was found to be empty, McCoy said.

McCoy said while the investigation was ongoing at the various scenes, a female juvenile and her parent came in to the Ravenna Police Department claiming responsibility for the packages, claiming they were just a joke. A total of five female juveniles - all ages 16 or 17 - are suspected of being involved, McCoy said.

“The girls found an Internet site called Mario Question Blocks which told you step by step how the game is played, along with instructions on wrapping the packages, just to see what kind of response you get,” McCoy said. “This game is evidently being played all over the country.”

McCoy said even though no harm was intended by the girls, they could face criminal charges for their actions.

“The potential is always present when dealing with a suspicious package that it could be deadly,” McCoy said. “In today’s day and age, you just cannot do this kind of stuff.”

In addition to Ravenna police and the HAZMAT crew, assistance was received from the Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Kent Fire Chief Jim Williams, Ravenna Fire Chief Geoff Cleveland and Mark Griffiths of the Portage County Emergency Management Agency.

McCoy said the incident will be referred to the Portage County Prosecutor’s Office for possible charges against the girls.

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