Beaumont Police Report Swatting Call

BEAUMONT, CA —The Beaumont Police Department announced that on Friday it received what it later determined was a swatting call, when somebody falsely reported a shooting and threatened to blow up a home.

According to the department, swatting is a criminal harassment tactic of making a false emergency report that sends police or other first responders to another person's home. The call often involves reporting a bomb threat, homicide or hostage situation and is designed to elicit a major tactical response, according to the BPD.

In Friday's case, according to the BPD, at approximately 10:55 a.m., a caller reported to police that he had shot his wife and wanted to blow up his home. The incident was reported in the 1200 block of Burgundy Rose Lane.

When officers arrived at the scene, they contacted the residents of the home and determined the call had been a hoax. The police said there were no injuries and there was no threat to the public or residents of the home.

However, the BPD said it continues to investigate the origins of the call, and the department made clear that making false reports to emergency services is a criminal offense that is punishable by fines and imprisonment. In California, swatters bear the full cost of the emergency response, which can lead to fines of up to $10,000, police said.

"These types of calls are dangerous both to law enforcement officers and the innocent homeowners who encounter a large police presence at their home," the BPD said in a statement on social media. "In addition, it wastes city and county tax dollars when responding to a false report of a serious law enforcement emergency."

On July 27, Patch reported a similar swatting incident in the 1400 block of Poppy Court in Beaumont. In that incident, a caller reported that he had just shot his wife and wanted to blow up his home and kill himself, according to reports.

Beaumont police officers rushed to the area. But after interviewing the residents, they determined the call was a hoax.

If anyone has information about the latest swatting incident, officers have asked they contact the Beaumont Police Department at 951-769-8500.