Heavy Police Presence At Beaumont Home Due To 'Swatting' Call

BEAUMONT, CA — A harassment tactic of sending police and other emergency personnel to another person’s address is what happened late Tuesday night in Beaumont, according to officials.

The offense, known as swatting, is a serious crime in California, and typically involves fraudulently reporting bomb threats, homicides, hostage situations, and other life-threatening emergencies in order to elicit a major tactical response from first responders.

Beaumont police did not take kindly to Tuesday night's hoax.

At around 11:29 p.m. that night, police dispatchers received an alleged call for service at a home in the 1400 block of Poppy Court.

The caller reported he had just shot his wife and wanted to blow up his home and kill himself, police said.

Beaumont police officers rushed to the area, but after arriving and interviewing the residents it was determined the call was a hoax.

The call's origins were still being investigated, and there was no threat to the public, police said.

"Making false reports to emergency services is a criminal offense, punishable by fines and imprisonment," Beaumont 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. In addition, it wastes city and county tax dollars when responding to a false report of a serious law enforcement emergency. In California, swatters bear the full cost of the response, which can lead to fines up to $10,000."

Anyone with information about the call or caller is asked to contact the Beaumont Police Department at 951-769-8500.