A false report that an armed man had shot a family member and was wearing an explosive device prompted a large emergency response and temporarily restricted access to a Petaluma neighborhood Friday evening, Aug. 21, police said.
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The report came shortly after 7 p.m. when a third-party crisis service contacted the Petaluma Police Department about a man it had been speaking with by phone, according to the department.
The man claimed he was inside a home in the area of Danby Court with a gun and that an elderly female relative had been injured, police said.
During the call, the man made increasingly serious claims, telling the crisis service that he had shot the woman and would shoot if police arrived. He later claimed he had an explosive device strapped to his body, according to police.
Officers surrounded the home while Petaluma Fire Department personnel waited nearby. Access to Danby Court was temporarily restricted, and residents were notified of the police activity.
At the same time, police worked to determine whether the caller’s claims were legitimate. Officers contacted the homeowner, who was away but confirmed that an elderly family member was inside the home.
Police then reached the woman by phone. She came outside unharmed and told officers that no shooting or other violence had occurred and that no one else was inside the home, police said.
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Officers searched the home and found no armed person, injured victim or explosive device. No injuries were reported.
Police determined the claims were false and said the incident appeared to be an example of “swatting,” in which someone falsely reports a serious or violent emergency to prompt an armed police response at an unsuspecting person’s home or another location.
The response ended about 8 p.m., less than an hour after the initial report, and the notification to nearby residents was canceled.
Police are investigating who made the false report. The department said false reports involving shootings, firearms or explosives can put residents and emergency personnel at risk while diverting resources from real emergencies.
Anyone with information about the incident may contact the Petaluma Police Department.
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You can reach Staff Writer Isabel Beer at [email protected].
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