Kanawha police ask for information on “swatting” prank call

KANAWHA – Kanawha Police Department asking the public for information pertaining to a prank call on Monday, May 31.

A press release from Chief Daniel Martinez states that at approximately 9:35 p.m. many law enforcement agencies from various surrounding areas were dispatched to the 200 Block of West 9^thStreet in Kanawha following a report of a possible shooting victim and that the threat was still very much active.

“After a couple hours of very professional and diligent police work, it was discovered the residents of this household were victim of what we call ‘swatting’,” according to Chief Martinez.

Swatting is 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.”

“Fortunately, this was a decent outcome, but it goes to show the severity in which law enforcement treats these sorts of situations,” said Chief Martinez. “Law enforcement does not condone this type of behavior and the perpetrator will be punished to the fullest extent of the law.”

An investigation is on-going. Anyone with information as to who may have done this is encouraged to contact the Kanawha Police Department or the Hancock County Sheriff’s office.