Poll: Should the Roseville High Hoaxer Be Charged With A Crime?

It was an April Fool's joke that law enforcement and emergency crews did not find funny.

The Roseville Police Department said a man from the state of Virginia called the dispatch center and reported that he saw someone enter administration building with a pipe bomb and rifle on Sunday.

The hoaxer called back later and said there were hostages, police said, and that the dispatcher could hear gunshots in the background.

“It was taken very seriously,” Roseville Police Sgt. Cal Walstad said. “But when we arrived, there was no one at the school and there was no event.”

The school was actually empty, closed and locked up for spring break.

Yet police officers from Roseville, Citrus Heights, Rocklin, Sacramento County Sheriff’s and the California Highway Patrol all responded, along with a helicopter, firefighters and parmedics.

Walstad described the hoax as wasted resources.

Police were able to trace the call back to a 30-year-old autistic man from Virginia. Walstad said that there did not seem to be any connection between the caller and the city of Roseville and that the school's choice seemed to be random.

Police have not yet released the identity of the caller and said no charges have been filed yet because the incident is still under investigation, but that they will be seeking restitution.

Wastad could not give a price estimate for the hoax, and said the caller being autistic makes no difference in the department’s decision to seek restitution.

The crank-caller can face federal charges for calling in a fake police report. Walstad described the planning that went into the hoax as fairly sophisticated.

“Yes, he can be held to answer both criminally and civilly for the event.” Walstad said.

Take our poll and tell us if you think the hoaxer should be charged with a crime, or just asked to pay restitution. Why or why not?