Though it was intended for just a few people, the e-mail apparently made it onto two e-mail lists for Partners Against Crime groups.
The jokester included a fake name, but a real phone number. Reached this afternoon by the Indy, the distributor declined to give his name (it is NOT Greg Knuckleheim, as indicated on the e-mail) and said that a city representative called him this morning.
"I think I got someone at the city in trouble," he said. He sent the e-mail only to friends, one of whom works for the City of Durham, he said. "I do not want to be famous for this," he added.
Beverly Thompson, the city's director of public affairs, sent an e-mail this morning to Mayor Bill Bell, the City Council and department heads, to let them know that the e-mail was fake. She included the following statement:
"Please note this news release was NOT issued by the City of Durham, and the information contained in the release is fictitious. Apparently, it was the sender’s failed attempt at an April Fool’s joke."