Internet Prank Leads to Swat Team Response in Ellington

There is nothing funny about wasting taxpayers money. But unfortunately a group of “pranksters” thinks its funny. 

On Friday afternoon someone called State Police reporting a possible shooting and a man barricaded in his house at 28 Brockway Road in Ellington.  

Police responded and took the threat credibly but when they arrived it was a false alarm, and it was an example of an internet prank, WFSB 3 reports. 

The goal is to get a swat team response when there is no emergency. This has happened eight times in the past two months in Connecticut and each time it wastes taxpayers between $10,000-$20,000, WFSB reports. 

Read the full WFSB 3 report here.