Isn’t it amazing how quick your entire life can be ruined by someone that doesn’t like you! The next time you don’t like the way a person looks or they take your parking place at the mall or you get jealous when your kid would rather spend time with someone that shows them attention, just fabricate a story and go take a warrant! Bam, he goes to jail, is judged guilty in the eyes of the public and makes front page news! WHEN he is found innocent in court you might be able to find a sentence or two on page 8 of this fine newspaper saying it was a misunderstanding. Maybe!

“Combs requested that no potential witnesses be contacted for comment. “We would also prefer that no comments or articles be written that may hinder this case from following its proper course,” she wrote. “There will be plenty of time when the matter comes to trial for the news to cover what transpires in this case.””

So in the meantime speculation will run rampant, and someone’s name and reputation will be drug through the dirt for many months until a prosecutor allows the whole story to be heard.

Tyron J. Harrison is sure to be innocent as no one would do such accusations at such an event or in public!!

What an embarrassment for this fine little town, especially with tourist season coming upon us!!

The parents of the 7 yr old should be held responsible for this rubbish!!

Be careful Mr. East, the last time one of our citizens spoke out about one of our prosecutors they were sued in civil court. We as citizens are only supposed to believe what the police and court officials tell us to believe. Mr. Harrison on the other hand was advised not to tell his story because his attorney knows how this court works. Oh yea, RoRu, something tells me the parents of this 7 year old will be held responsible for this rubbish. In the meantime Mr. Harrison and his family are held hostage by this injustice!

This is gross miscarriage of justice.  According to Virginia’s code of laws, malicious wounding is to “maliciously shoot, stab, cut or wound - or by any means cause bodily injury with the intent to maim, disfigure, disable or kill”.  I was not at the event, but I think I’m pretty safe in assuming that if this was happening to anyone (especially a child) one of the many adults present (especially the child’s parents) would have called 911 and physically intervened and, if warranted, an arrest would have been made immediately - not the next day.

I am a devoted advocate for the health and welfare for all children, but this is way over the top. What has happend to our society?  Many adults are afraid to hug or comfort a child in need because they have to worry about being accused of being a child molester.  Now we have to worry about horseplaying with children because we might be accused of malicious wounding.  Give me a break!

What are these parents thinking?  They have tarnished the reputation and threatened the livelihood of an upstanding business man, husband and father.  My thoughts and prayers for a quick resolution are with Mr. Harrison and his family.  I just pray that he and his family can get back to the life they had prior to these rediculous allegations.

Be careful Mr. East, the last time one of our citizens spoke out about one of our prosecutors they were sued in civil court.

Are you serious~ by a prosecutor who is suppose to be there for the people- IN MY OPINION, how petty is that for a public official to do?

Very petty. Welcome to Wythe County.

When does common sense make sense? In the matter of Tyron J. Harrison, plant manager at Wytheville’s Amcor PET Packaging and the charges relating to him reported in this paper, it appears common sense didn’t make sense. I would think a magistrate would apply certain principals of common sense before issuing an arrest warrant. I would also assume that a high ranking officer of our Sheriffs Department would use common sense when selecting words to be printed in the media. I expect the media to use common sense when reporting the news. Unfortunately, it appears common sense is not all that common. Then the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office requests that the media not contact potential witnesses. Who are the witnesses? Hundreds of people were at the event that night, all potential witnesses not to mention the friends of the accused and accuser which could number into hundreds more.  I am amazed at the length our local law enforcement and prosecuting attorney’s office will go in their quest to make headlines. Now that the general public has been subjected to the “NEWS”, you have been instructed to not contact witnesses which basically means don’t ask any questions, we’ve told the public what we want them to believe.

I’ve known and became goods friends with Mr. Harrison, his wife and children since they moved here.  My three year old son plays with his children on a regular basis. And yes, they have been known to play rough at times. I have and will continue to allow my son to play with his children and we as fathers and mothers will play with them. If one of us gets a bump or cut, as happens when children play, we will tend to the bump or cut and not make a mad dash to the magistrate’s office.

Mr. Harrison and his family have endured an untold amount of anguish the last week because of a chain of people that exercised no common sense. Amcor PET Packaging did what they had to do and Mr. Harrison understands being placed on administrative leave until the truth is exposed.  I have to wonder how many Executives at the Corporate Office are asking themselves what type of community have they invested tens of millions of dollars into. Amcor has unselfishly donated thousands of dollars into this community not to mention the countless hours of community service Mr. Harrison and the employees of Amcor have devoted. I for one am proud of my association with the Harrison Family and the extended Amcor Family and am happy that Amcor PET Packaging is an involved part of our community. 

I just hope that the employees of Amcor, the friends of the Harrison Family and the leaders of this community make a sincere effort to help right the horrible wrong that this family has endured.

It really is a shame what some people are capable of.  It is unbelievable that you can embellish a story and take to the Magistrate and it is readily believed and someone’s life is turned upside down.

The malicious assault was not against the accuser’s child rather Mr. Harrison, his wife and their children and Amcor by the accuser. I would hope that when this is said and done that Mr. Harrison files criminal and civil charges against the accuser for the pain, suffering, and slanderous accusations.

I find it disgusting the abuse of our justice system to further someone’s obvious personal vendetta. What could possibly have triggered these accusations: jealousy, greed, revenge, ignorance?

There comes a time in life when you must learn not to act on petty, immature, evil thoughts and let rational thoughts take control or just stop yourself!

I would only hope that Amcor corporate executive’s see this for what it really is and stands behind Mr. Harrison and his family in what has to be a most trying time personally and professionally.

What does this say about our community in the eyes of potential business’s that are considering investing here?  Consider all of the time and money that has been spent to attract new business to this area. One person has destroyed in one day the positive image that so many have worked through the years to build.

Whatever the accuser’s self centered motivation is I hope that they learn a valuable lesson from this situation.  I sure hope that the accuser can take what they have dished out because life has a funny way of giving it right back to you. When is the accuser going to come to their senses and start acting like an adult?

I agree with J.R., welcome to Wythe County.  Anyone can go to the Magistrates Office and show “Probable Cause” and have warrants issued against anyone for any personal vendetta they have.  In this town, it is not Innocent until proven Guilty, you are Guilty once accused and then you have to pay a lawyer, miss work, risk losing your job from missing work, and go PROVE that you are innocent.  What is “Probable Cause” anyway, someone walking in and making a statement, how is that probable cause, have they ever heard of “Liars” around here?  I am confident that if searched out, majority of Wythe County cases were either “No Pros” or the accused found “Innocent” and then you never hear the outcome, all you hear about is what they are accused of, and then you have a “Mug Shot” in a small town “wanna be” Big Time Town.  Harrison family don’t feel alone, there are many of us out here who have been falsely accused, and I am sure there will be many more with our “Professional” Magistrate and Sheriff’s Dept of Wythe County.  If they don’t know your whole family tree, and this one’s grandmother or grandfather, you are out of luck in this county.  They do not like outsiders...so watch out, they will be watching you everywhere.  Best of Luck to you and your family, remember Jesus was falsely accused too, but that didn’t make the “Officials” right in their accusations, who is paying for those “Probable Causes” now?  Not Jesus.

You’re right Monty, unless of course they’re teenagers. Did you know that in Wytheville a teenager can do pretty much whatever they want and the police will do nothing, the magistrate will do nothing. We’re headed for some ugly times in Wytheville as more of more of these kids are figuring out that the law can’t touch them.

Also did you know the police can pick and choose which calls to answer? I have lived on the west coast, the east coast and in a large city in the midwest and have never heard of the police refusing to come when called.

Has anyone ever filed a complaint with the State Attorney General’s office to investigate the Wythe county officials?  If this kind of injustice goes on all the time, it definately needs to be exposed.  Someone needs to bring all these past/present injustices to the attention of a national media outlet such as Dateline, 60 minutes, 20/20, etc.  These shows can be relentless when doing an expose!  The Commonwealth would practically be forced to investigate these officials and then maybe the citizens of Wythe county would have a fair legal system.  I’m glad I don’t live there!

MR HARRISON HAS A HISTORY OF AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR AS HIS “WITNESSES” CAN CONFIRM. SOME OF HIS WORK HISTORY HAS BEEN OF CONCERN IN THE PAST. JUST ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS LAST POSITION AND THE REASONS HE LEFT. AS A MOTHER OF THREE BOYS I CAN HONESTLY SAY I WOULD TRUST THE WORD OF A SMALL CHILD LONG BEFORE I WOULD PLACE ANY TRUST IN MR HARRISON’S CLAIM OF INNOCENCE.