Tag:

Swatting

Bomb Threat Clears North Bergen Walmart, Proves Bogus Bomb Threat Clears North Bergen Walmart, Proves Bogus
Bomb Threat Clears North Bergen Walmart, Proves Bogus The Walmart store in North Bergen was evacuated due to a bomb threat that turned out to be a hoax on Wednesday, May 1, police tell Daily Voice. Two calls to the 2100 88th Street store were placed at approximately 1:45 p.m., saying that bombs were placed inside and "figure out how to disarm them," North Bergen Police Capt. Jorge Raposo tells Daily Voice. Bomb threat clears North Bergen Walmart. Special to Daily Voice Bomb threat clears North Bergen Walmart. Special to Daily Voice A sweep of the store turned up negative for explosive or suspicious devices at 2:55 p.m., Raposo sai…
Teen Girl Arrested For Swatting Incident At Bayonne Middle School: Cops Teen Girl Arrested For Swatting Incident At Bayonne Middle School: Cops
Teen Girl Arrested For Swatting Incident At Bayonne Middle School: Cops A 15-year-old Bayonne teenage girl was arrested on Monday, April 29 after she 'swatted' William Shemin Midtown School earlier that day, authorities said. At 9:57 a.m., police responded to the school on a reported threat, Eric Amato, public information officer for the Bayonne Police Department said. After conducting an investigating, officers determined it to be a swatting incident, Amato said. There was no safety threat to students, faculty member or the general pubic, Amato said. The 15-year-old was apprehended following an investigation and was charged with making false public alarms, Ama…
School In Fairfield Receives Threat Of Violence, Placed In Lockdown School In Fairfield Receives Threat Of Violence, Placed In Lockdown
School In Fairfield Receives Threat Of Violence, Placed In Lockdown A Fairfield County high school was placed on lockdown after receiving a threat of violence. The incident occurred at Notre Dame High School in Fairfield around 1 p.m., Thursday, April 11. According to Sgt. Michael Stahl of the Fairfield Police, the school received a telephone threat of violence and notified the police. The school was placed into lockdown while officers completed an assessment of the threat and determined that all students and staff were safe, Stahl said. "At this time, we believe this to be a swatting incident and that the call to the school was not made from the imm…
Juvenile Nabbed For 'Swatting' Stamford Home, School At Least 10 Times Juvenile Nabbed For 'Swatting' Stamford Home, School At Least 10 Times
Juvenile Nabbed For 'Swatting' Stamford Home, School At Least 10 Times An online gaming feud led to the arrest of a juvenile for swatting a Fairfield County home and school at least 10 times. The juvenile living in Maryland was charged on Thursday, Feb. 22 by the Stamford Police. According to Capt. Eugene Dohmann of the Stamford Police Department, swatting is a term used to describe the act of reporting a false critical incident to cause a massive response by emergency service personnel. The first incident occurred on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, when officers responded to a home on Southfield Avenue on a report of a bomb threat, Dohmann said. This was determi…
Minor Accused Of Aiding In Terrorism Following Swatting Incidents In Stafford, Sherif Says Minor Accused Of Aiding In Terrorism Following Swatting Incidents In Stafford, Sherif Says
Minor Accused Of Aiding In Terrorism Following Swatting Incidents In Stafford, Sherif Says A juvenile who has caused chaos for the Stafford County Sheriff's Office has been charged and prosecuted following a lengthy investigation into a series of swatting incidents, authorities announced. Between May and September last year, investigators say that crews were called to a plethora of swatting incidents at several schools that were purportedly targeted by the underage suspect. Buildings involved in the swatting incidents include:  Stafford High School; Brooke Point High School; Dixon Smith Middle School; Drew Middle School. In each incident officials say that they "were each …
Two Alexandria Schools Swatted (DETAILS) Two Alexandria Schools Swatted (DETAILS)
Two Alexandria Schools Swatted (Details) Two bogus threats brought a SWAT response to two Alexandria schools on Wednesday, Jan. 24, officials said. The first call came in around 12:05 p.m., targeting the Charles Barrett Elementary School, at 1115 Martha Cutis Dr., a spokesperson for the sheriff's office said. The caller said someone would be at the school with guns, officials said. Multiple officers, K9s, and Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) members responded and began searching the school, which was evacuated to Cora Kelly School on Commonwealth Avenue, police said. APD assisted and remained with students and faculty who …
Ohio 'Swatter' Caught In Chester County, Police Say Ohio 'Swatter' Caught In Chester County, Police Say
Ohio 'Swatter' Caught In Chester County, Police Say A Parkesburg man is charged with felony "swatting" in Ohio, according to borough police.  Michael Eugene Carpenter was arrested on an Ohio warrant on Tuesday, Jan. 9, authorities said in a release.  "Swatting" involves reporting a false crime to authorities — often a bomb threat or hostage situation — to provoke a police response, officials said.  Carpenter was released after posting a $10,000 bond on Wednesday, Jan. 10, court records show. Details of his pending extradition to Ohio were not immediately available. 
Sandy Hook School Receives Threat, All Safe, Police Say Sandy Hook School Receives Threat, All Safe, Police Say
Sandy Hook School Receives Threat, All Safe, Police Say Police in Fairfield County are reassuring the community that all students and staff are safe after a school in Sandy Hook received a new threat. The threat was made in Newtown around 9:15 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 30 at Sandy Hook School. According to Lt. Scott Smith, this morning police received a third-party report of a threatening message regarding the school. Newtown Police promptly responded to the school as staff followed appropriate safety precautions. "Newtown Police quickly determined that all students and staff were safe and that the threat was not credible, but instead was simi…
Synagogues Victim Of Hoax Bomb Threats In Needham, Hingham: Police Synagogues Victim Of Hoax Bomb Threats In Needham, Hingham: Police
Synagogues Victim Of Hoax Bomb Threats In Needham, Hingham: Police Multiple places of worship were the victims of hoax bomb threats over the weekend, causing police to evacuate homes and close roads until they could investigate the scenes.  An employee at Congregation Sha’aray Shalom at 1112 Main St. in Hingham received an email shortly before 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 19 that said that bombs were inside the synagogue, according to police. The employee left and called 911. Several homes nearby were evacuated, and Main Street (Route 228) was closed in both directions, police said. Explosive detection dogs from Quincy police and Massachusetts State Police …
SWATTING: Multiple Staffers At Saddle Brook School Receive Bogus Bomb Threat SWATTING: Multiple Staffers At Saddle Brook School Receive Bogus Bomb Threat
Swatting: Multiple Staffers At Saddle Brook School Receive Bogus Bomb Threat Five different staff members at a Saddle Brook school received the same emailed bomb threat, said authorities who cleared the building, conducted a search and found nothing harmful. Members of the Bergen County Bomb Squad swept both inside and outside the K-6 Franklin Elementary School on Caldwell Avenue before giving the all-clear, Saddle Brook Schools Supt. Toni Violetti said Tuesday morning, Nov. 14. A SWAT team also responded to the 8 a.m. swatting incident, said Capt. John A. Zotollo, Jr., the officer in charge of the Saddle Brook Police Department. The Bergen County Prosecutor's…
School Swatting Attacks In Hudson Valley: Rep. Lawler Proposes Longer Prison Sentences School Swatting Attacks In Hudson Valley: Rep. Lawler Proposes Longer Prison Sentences
School Swatting Attacks In Hudson Valley: Rep. Lawler Proposes Longer Prison Sentences In response to a rise in school swatting attacks across the country, including in the Hudson Valley, US Rep. Mike Lawler is introducing legislation that would increase the prison term for those who threaten students.  Lawler, who represents New York's 17th congressional district which includes all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester counties, announced his proposal on Wednesday, Oct. 25.  The proposed legislation, called the Schools Want Accountability for Threats (SWAT) Act, would increase the penalty for a school swatting attack targeting a school t…
Greenwich Schools Threat Likely 'Swatting' Incident, Police Say Greenwich Schools Threat Likely 'Swatting' Incident, Police Say
Greenwich Schools Threat Likely 'Swatting' Incident, Police Say A threat to schools in a Fairfield County town has been deemed a swatting incident by officials. The incident took place on Tuesday, Oct. 17 when police became aware of a vague threat through social media directed against the Greenwich School System and one of the town’s middle schools. According to Lt. Ted Latiak of the Greenwich Police, no specific threats were identified, but every precaution was taken to ensure the safety of the town’s students and staff members. Working closely with the Board of Education and other town departments, the Police Department has determined that this was a…
Bomb Threats Prompt Evacuation Of Seaside Heights Boardwalk: Prosecutor Bomb Threats Prompt Evacuation Of Seaside Heights Boardwalk: Prosecutor
Bomb Threats Prompt Evacuation Of Seaside Heights Boardwalk: Prosecutor Bogus bomb threats aimed at Seaside Heights businesses were swatting incidents, authorities said. At approximately 8:50 a.m., on Monday, Sept. 11, the Seaside Heights Police Department received four phone calls indicating that two bombs were hidden at businesses on the Seaside Heights boardwalk, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer. Additionally, the callers indicated that they had operatives armed with guns on the Seaside Heights boardwalk, he said. The Seaside Heights boardwalk was temporarily evacuated as law enforcement assessed the credibility …
Again? Swatting Incident Evacuates Stafford High School Two Days In A Row Again? Swatting Incident Evacuates Stafford High School Two Days In A Row
Again? Swatting Incident Evacuates Stafford High School Two Days In A Row Yet another swatting incident evacuated Stafford High School. The treat was called into the school at 9 a.m., just one day after two swatting incidents evacuated both Stafford and Brooke Point high schools at dismissal. "Due to the increase in swatting calls, deputies will be providing additional coverage at all of our public schools," the sheriff's office said. "The investigation is ongoing." Want breaking news in the DMV as it happens, or want to contribute? Join the DMV All Incidents Facebook group.
Bomb Threat Phoned Into Private School Linked To Montgomery Mall Swatting Incident, Police Say Bomb Threat Phoned Into Private School Linked To Montgomery Mall Swatting Incident, Police Say
Bomb Threat Phoned Into Private School Linked To Montgomery Mall Swatting Incident, Police Say Members of the Montgomery County Department of Police were called to a private school in Maryland on Tuesday afternoon to investigate a reported bomb threat. Officials say that shortly after noon on Tuesday, Aug. 22, officers were called to the Bullis School in Potomac where there was a reported bomb threat that led to the building being evacuated. Officers were still at the scene at around 1 p.m. on Tuesday, and investigators say that the reported call may be linked to a swatting call that was phoned in to the Montgomery Mall over the weekend. UPDATE: Officers are still on scene at th…
Swatting Incident: Hoax Shooting Call Prompts Police Response, Road Closure In Dobbs Ferry Swatting Incident: Hoax Shooting Call Prompts Police Response, Road Closure In Dobbs Ferry
Swatting Incident: Hoax Shooting Call Prompts Police Response, Road Closure In Dobbs Ferry A fake shooting call that prompted a widespread police response and a road closure in Westchester is now being reported as a swatting incident, authorities said.  The incident happened just before 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 2, when the Dobbs Ferry Police Department was notified by a local mobile crisis team reporting that they had received a call from a man who had claimed to have shot his mother and uncle.  According to the department, the man had also told the crisis team that he was contemplating hurting himself.  The caller had identified his location as 135 Beacon Hill D…
Fake Report Prompts Large-Scale Police Response In Irvington Fake Report Prompts Large-Scale Police Response In Irvington
Fake Report Prompts Large-Scale Police Response In Irvington A swatting incident led to an extensive police response in Westchester, prompting authorities to begin a search for the perpetrator of the false report.  The incident happened on Thursday, May 25 just before 2:30 p.m., when an individual made a false report that led to a large police response near the lower area of Main Street in Irvington, according to Irvington Police.  After the false report was made, Irvington officers responded to the area and set up a safety perimeter with the help of police from Tarrytown and Dobbs Ferry.  After a preliminary investigation was conduct…
Active Shooter Report Forces Evacuation At St John's Preparatory In Danvers Active Shooter Report Forces Evacuation At St John's Preparatory In Danvers
Active Shooter Report Forces Evacuation At St John's Preparatory In Danvers Students were evacuated following a report of an active shooter at a private high school on the North Shore this week, according to authorities.  State and local police responded to a report of a person with a gun at St. John's Preparatory High School in Danvers shortly before 2 p.m. on Monday, May 22, Massachusetts State Police said.  At 1:49 PM several dozen Troopers and @DanversPolice responded to St. John’s Prep for report of a person with a gun at the school. Immediate entry made and no threats identified at this time. Teams doing secondary sweeps. We are aware of no injuries at th…
'PlugwalkJoe' Admits Unprecedented Twitter Hack That Included Musk, Kardashian, Biden: Feds 'PlugwalkJoe' Admits Unprecedented Twitter Hack That Included Musk, Kardashian, Biden: Feds
'PlugwalkJoe' Admits Unprecedented Twitter Hack That Included Musk, Kardashian, Biden: Feds A 23-year-old British citizen who hacked the Twitter accounts of Joe Biden, Elon Musk, Kim Kardashian and Bill Gates, among others, pleaded guilty in federal court to a host of related charges as part of a deal with the government. Joseph James O'Connor -- also known as "PlugwalkJoe" -- technically faces up to 77 years in prison under federal sentencing guidelines but will likely get somewhere between 10 to 20 years when all is said and done. The Liverpudlian hacker admitted during a plea hearing in federal court in Manhattan on Tuesday, May 9, that he committed one of the largest high-pro…
Pennsylvania 'Juvenile' Made Fake 911 Calls To Six States, Troopers Say Pennsylvania 'Juvenile' Made Fake 911 Calls To Six States, Troopers Say
Pennsylvania 'Juvenile' Made Fake 911 Calls To Six States, Troopers Say A Monroe County "juvenile" is charged with making phony 911 calls to dispatchers in at least six states — and state police say they found child pornography on his computer when they stopped by to investigate.  The unnamed 17-year-old from Jackson Township was charged with child pornography possession, false alarms, false reports, and possession of an instrument of crime, said troopers in a release on Wednesday, May 3.  Pennsylvania state police were contacted by sheriff's deputies from Collin County, Texas, regarding an investigation into "swatting" calls they had received.&n…
14-Year-Old Student Charged In School Swatting Incident In Yonkers: Police 14-Year-Old Student Charged In School Swatting Incident In Yonkers: Police
14-Year-Old Student Charged In School Swatting Incident In Yonkers: Police A 14-year-old student was arrested and charged with reporting a false shooting incident at a high school in Westchester, police said.  The incident happened on Wednesday, May 3 just after 11:30 a.m., when officers responded to Lincoln High School in Yonkers at 375 Kneeland Ave. after receiving an anonymous report of shots fired, according to Yonkers Police.  Once they arrived at the school, responding officers made contact with school officials and searched the building before determining that no shots had been fired and that the report had been unfounded.  Realizing th…
911 Call Of Mother Shot, Siblings Held At Knifepoint Rattles Fair Lawn Neighborhood 911 Call Of Mother Shot, Siblings Held At Knifepoint Rattles Fair Lawn Neighborhood
911 Call Of Mother Shot, Siblings Held At Knifepoint Rattles Fair Lawn Neighborhood The 911 call was chilling. A Fair Lawn police dispatcher heard what sounded like gunshots and people crying in the background as a caller claimed that he'd shot his mother and was holding two siblings at knifepoint. Fair Lawn patrol units and tactical officers immediately converged on Roosevelt Place at Berdan Avenue, where the call purportedly originated shortly after 9 p.m. Thursday, April 27. They were joined by Elmwood Park police and Bergen County sheriff's officers. A call for a Bergen County Regional SWAT team was quickly canceled, however. That's because the call was bogus. A sw…
Swatting Hoax Probed By Hoboken Police Swatting Hoax Probed By Hoboken Police
Swatting Hoax Probed By Hoboken Police A report of a shooting in Hoboken on Monday, April 17 turned out to be a swatting hoax, police said. Police responded to Grand Street between 1st and Newark Streets, along with fire, EMS and police officers from the nearby Stevens Police Department. Officers closed down Grand Street as they began their investigation. Officers soon determined the call was fake and there was no threat to public safety, police said. Officers went unit by unit letting residents of the building know about the hoax. Police are still investigating. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Ryan H…
'SWATTED' AGAIN: Bogus Gun Call Empties Ridgewood HS 'SWATTED' AGAIN: Bogus Gun Call Empties Ridgewood HS
'Swatted' Again: Bogus Gun Call Empties Ridgewood HS What proved to be a prank call about someone with a gun at Ridgewood High School triggered an emergency response on Monday. The school was cleared but everyone was allowed to return a short time after the late-morning "swatting" call on April 17 brought a number of tactical officers from the village and the Bergen County Regional SWAT team. Swatting is more than a nuisance. It unnecessarily causes anxiety and fear -- which, of course, is usually the intent. A Bergen County Regional SWAT Team responded to Ridgewood High School on Monday, April 17.Kyle Mazza/UNF News for DAILY VOICE It a…
Shooting Hoax: These Albany County Schools Targeted By Statewide ‘Swatting’ Prank Shooting Hoax: These Albany County Schools Targeted By Statewide ‘Swatting’ Prank
Shooting Hoax: These Albany County Schools Targeted By Statewide ‘Swatting’ Prank Federal investigators are probing a statewide “swatting” prank that sent schools across New York into lockdown amid fears of a mass shooting. The threatening phone calls started pouring in Thursday morning, March 30, falsely claiming there was an active shooter at various schools across the state, according to New York State Police. The State Police is aware of swatting incidents that have occurred across the state, in which a caller states that there is an active shooter in a school. All of the reports are unfounded. We are working alongside our federal & local partners to investig…
School Swatting Incidents Occurring Across NY, State Police Say School Swatting Incidents Occurring Across NY, State Police Say
School Swatting Incidents Occurring Across NY, State Police Say Authorities are investigating numerous incidents of schools in New York state receiving swatting calls claiming there is an active shooter in the building, state police said.  The threatening calls were received by schools on Thursday morning, March 30, and have all been found to be false, state police announced.  The State Police is aware of swatting incidents that have occurred across the state, in which a caller states that there is an active shooter in a school. All of the reports are unfounded. We are working alongside our federal & local partners to investigate the threats. pi…
Statement On 'Computer Generated Swatting' After Schools Across PA Evacuated: State Police Statement On 'Computer Generated Swatting' After Schools Across PA Evacuated: State Police
Statement On 'Computer Generated Swatting' After Schools Across PA Evacuated: State Police Pennslyvania state police have released a statement after a large number of local and state police were called to schools—primarily Catholic schools, across Pennsylvania on Wednesday, March 29, 2023.  At some schools students and staff were evacuated, and police surrounded the buildings with gun drawn, like at Central Catholic and Oakland Catholic high schools. Police were also called— although no guns were drawn— to schools in Bishop Carroll, Altoona Area, Forest Hills and Bellefonte. Forest Hills School officials released the following statement: "Due to suspicious activity throughout …
West Springfield High Off Lockdown After Hoax Threat Made Against School: Police West Springfield High Off Lockdown After Hoax Threat Made Against School: Police
West Springfield High Off Lockdown After Hoax Threat Made Against School: Police West Springfield High was momentarily put on lockdown Friday, March 3, after someone called in a fake threat about the Hampden County school, officials said. The hoax is the last in a worrying and growing trend called "swatting." West Springfield police said someone called the department's non-emergency line just after 8:20 a.m. to make the threat. Officers responded to the high school within a minute and worked with administrators to begin safety protocols, which included a lockdown.  Police swept the school for threats but found nothing, and they determined the call was fake. School …
Prank Caller Sends SWAT Team To Reading Wendy's Prank Caller Sends SWAT Team To Reading Wendy's
Prank Caller Sends SWAT Team To Reading Wendy's Police in Berks County left Wendy's empty-handed this weekend.  A SWAT team in Reading was deployed to the fast food restaurant at 930 Lancaster Avenue at about 10:15 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 25, the department said.  Emergency dispatchers had been told that a suspect was "hiding in a dumpster, possibly armed," police said. But when officers searched the bin, they said they found nothing of note.  "All information leads to a swatting call originating from an internet number that originated out of state," Reading police explained. No injuries were reported.  "Swat…
'Swatting' Hoax Threats Send Multiple Massachusetts School Into Lockdowns 'Swatting' Hoax Threats Send Multiple Massachusetts School Into Lockdowns
'Swatting' Hoax Threats Send Multiple Massachusetts School Into Lockdowns Multiple Massachusetts schools have been forced into lockdowns because of fake gun and bomb threats, otherwise known as "swatting" incidents, over the past four days.  "Swatting" is defined as "the action or practice of making a prank call to emergency services in an attempt to bring about the dispatch of a large number of armed police officers to a particular address," according to Oxford Language.  These incidents have seen an uptick across the Commonwealth in the wake of the deadly shooting at the Michigan State University on Monday, Feb. 13 in which three students perished. T…
UPDATE: Lockdown Prompted After Gunfire Reported At Amesbury High School: Police UPDATE: Lockdown Prompted After Gunfire Reported At Amesbury High School: Police
Update: Lockdown Prompted After Gunfire Reported At Amesbury High School: Police Police received a report of gunfire at Amesbury High School and locked the school down, officials say.  Officers were dispatched to the high school on Highland Street to lock the school down around 11:45 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 13 after receiving a call in which a male voice said he had a firearm near the school, according to the Amesbury Police Department. The sound of gunshots could be heard in the background of the call.  Police followed procedure and responded with a large number of police and emergency units, locking the school down, and activating secure mode fore all other Amesbury sch…