Newburgh Heights police detained several juveniles Friday night in connection with swatting calls that disrupted the area for hours.
The incident began around 10:15 p.m. near East 44th Street, according to the Newburgh Heights Police Department, and unfolded over several hours.
Swatting, defined by 911.gov, involves the false reporting of an emergency with the intent of prompting an aggressive law enforcement response, often involving a SWAT team, to a location where no real threat exists.
In this case, authorities were alerted to a report that a man had allegedly shot his wife. Upon investigation, the claim was found to be a hoax.
Police have not disclosed how many juveniles were taken into custody or their ages. Additional details about the incident are expected to be released on Monday.
Swatting incidents are taken seriously by law enforcement due to the significant resources they divert and the potential danger they pose to both responders and innocent individuals. This latest event highlights the ongoing challenges posed by such false reports.
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