San Rafael Police, FBI Probe Hoax Threats

SAN RAFAEL, CA — The San Rafael Police Department is working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies after receiving an emergency phone call on Monday from a person stating that a school shooting occurred at a local high school, the department said on Tuesday.

Just after 2 p.m., San Rafael Police received an emergency call from a person saying a shooting had just occurred at a school and that there were injured students. Police responded to the school and began investigating, quickly determining that no such emergency had taken place and that all students and faculty were safe and accounted for.

It was learned that the emergency call was part of a series of hoax calls made throughout California and the U.S., police said.

"Upon receiving the call, the dispatchers immediately noticed inconsistencies between what had been reported and the tone of the caller making the report," said the police.

Detectives reached out to the FBI and other law enforcement agencies to determine the identity of the person or persons responsible for the call.

"False calls cause needless emotional trauma to our community and tie up first responder resources that need to be available for real emergencies and community needs," said Lieutenant Scott Eberle in a statement released by the San Rafael Police.

Anyone responsible for making the call could face charges of making a false police report, nuisance calling a 911 dispatch center, and interfering with the ability to receive real emergency calls, police said.

Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call San Rafael Police at (415) 485-3000. Tips can also be made online at http://www.srpd.org/tips.

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