Salem police seek email info for Super Cruise hoax investigation

Two internet giants are now involved in the investigation into what Salem police suspect was a hoax perpetrated in an effort to sabotage the most recent Salem Super Cruise.

A judge in Columbiana County has issued and order demanding that Twitter and Yahoo to turn over information about internet accounts using the name Ken Keinst, that were associated with emails and social media posts that claimed the yearly auto event had been canceled.

Just days before the event was scheduled to start in June, Salem city officials said someone called the businesses hired to service the event, telling them that the Super Cruise had been called off.

Businesses providing garbage service, tents and porta-johns received the bogus calls according to the city.

The 21 Newsroom also received a phone call from someone claiming to be Salem Service Director Ken Kenst, saying that he was canceling the events because of the weather.

"I said, can I just see something official, can you send me an e-mail so I can verify it. Then we will get it out there as quickly as we can," explained 21 News assignment manager J. Breen Mitchell. "He became belligerent with me, started using profanity, and said he would try to get me an e-mail later."

The person followed up with a poorly written email that was full of grammatical errors. In the email Kenst's name was misspelled "Keinst."

The genuine Ken Kenst told 21 News that he was aware three or four similar attempts at the time.

The Arby's restaurant also reported receiving a call from someone claiming to be a police officer who tried to get them to cancel their car show event.

Salem Mayor John Berlin noted at the time that if someone was impersonating a police officer, it could take the hoax from a mere prank, to a more serious offense.

In spite of efforts by the Grinch who tried to steal the Super Cruise, the event went on as planned.