New Details Released In Likely Naugatuck 'Swatting' Incident

NAUGATUCK, CT — Police say they believe a 'swatting' or made up incident involving an alleged man with a gun near Maple Hill Elementary School may be to blame for causing the school to briefly go into lockdown.

At 2:31 p.m. Naugatuck Police received a phone call from an anonymous caller, who said a “white male wearing a tank top is holding a gun in the air threatening that he will shoot the next person that comes onto his property.”

The caller stated that the incident occurred at a home on Sunburst Road and described the subject as having facial tattoos. The caller also described the residence but was unable to provide a residence address and no further information was provided by the caller, police said.

Police immediately responded to the area and searched the neighborhood. "While this incident was being investigated, Naugatuck Police simultaneously notified the Naugatuck Board of Education of our presence in the area and recommended that Maple Hill elementary School conduct a precautionary lockdown until the situation could be further investigated and until a determination could be made that there was no threat to the facility. The Naugatuck PD stationed an officer at the school to restrict movement onto the school property at about 2:45 PM," said Police Lt. Bryan Cammarata.

Naugatuck officers and detectives spoke with numerous residents in the area and no one reported seeing or hearing anything that matched the events described by the caller. At 3:15 PM police determined that there was no threat and the lockdown at Maple Hill was lifted, police said.

Although a determination was made that no immediate threat existed, the investigation into the incident including information regarding the caller remains open.

"It should be further noted that investigation into the origin of the call revealed that the number is registered as “unknown” from Washington State, indicating the possibility of the call being connected to a “swatting” incident," police said.

The Naugatuck PD requests anyone that might have information regarding this incident contact the Naugatuck PD at 203-729-5221 or the NPD Confidential Tip Line at 203-720-1010.

NAUGATUCK, CT — Maple Hill Elementary School was briefly in a lockdown Wednesday afternoon after there was a report of a person with a weapon in the area of Maple Hill Road near Mulberry Street, police said.

The lockdown was quickly lifted and police say the situation has been resolved. Students were released as normal during dismissal time.

No other details have been released. Patch will continue to update this story.