Teenager swatted in Moses Lake
On Sunday morning, Grant County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a shooting in the Larson community. After arrival, the deputies discovered the call to be a malicious false report, also known as swatting. The case is still under investigation.
FILE PHOTO
MOSES LAKE — The Grant County Sheriff's Office received a call about a shooting early Sunday in the Larson community. The call turned out to be a malicious false call, also known as swatting.
“Swatting is a malicious call to emergency services that is intended to prompt a large police tactical response,” GCSO Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman said.
According to GCSO, at around 12:15 a.m., it was reported that there was a shooting inside a home in the 1000 block of Lowry Drive.
Moses Lake Police and GCSO deputies surrounded the home.
While officers were checking, a 16-year-old told deputies he was home playing an online game when another player said they were going to call the police.
Both the Lowry Drive home and the home next door were checked, with no signs of a crime occurring.
“We do not get swat calls often. I recall there was one at (Big Bend Community College) several years ago on spring break,” Foreman said. “I don't recall any others off the top of my head, but they're not frequent.”
GCSO said the answers provided by the 911 caller were inaccurate, causing deputies to be skeptical.
The suspect, if identified, will likely be charged with third-degree false reporting because a false statement was made to police; however no one died or was injured from the call, Foreman said.
The responding agencies included GCSO, Moses Lake Police Department and Multi-Agency Communications Center — 911.
Foreman said this is an ongoing investigation.