Jasper resident victim of “swatting”
Jasper — A South Meridian Road residence was swarmed with local law enforcement responding to a call of shots fired Friday afternoon.
Avoid south Meridian Rd, just south of 164 and Meridian Rd. Officers in area with guns drawn.
— Dubois County Watch (@DuboisCrime) January 2, 2015
— Dubois County Watch (@DuboisCrime) January 2, 2015
However, after offices with the Jasper Police Department, Dubois County Sheriff’s Department, and the Indiana State Police arrived ready for the report of a shooting, they soon determined the homeowner had been the victim of a prank called “swatting”.
In swatting, a report of a dangerous situation, such as the shots fired call received by authorities Friday at 4:45 p.m., is made to authorities. Officers then respond appropriately — many times with a special weapons and tactics (SWAT) team — under the assumption a dangerous situation is in progress. The pranks waste police resources and the armed response and tactics used by officers when they are responding to a very dangerous situation usually terrifies the victim and neighbors.
An elaborate ring of swatters was uncovered in an investigation in Connecticut. Members of the ring would hack a person’s Twitter or Facebook account and then force the owner to make a swat call before relinquishing it. Seven members were indicted in the aftermath of the investigation.
In the Jasper incident Friday, the homeowner told police that she had received a call from an unknown male before officers arrived. The victim told police the caller demanded her personal information and when she didn’t comply, a call was made to 911 reporting a violent crime involving multiple homicides.
The victim also told police she believed her computer was possibly hacked and personal information accessed.
According to police, the call for shots fired came from another unknown location.
The investigation is ongoing.
Here is an ABC News report on the Connecticut case. Inside a SWAT Prank Ring Allegedly Composed of X-Box Gamers
