Salem Man Who Falsely Reported AK-47 Rifle Threat In Wendy's Bathroom Charged: Police

SALEM, MA — A Salem man accused of calling a hoax report to Salem police that someone had an AK-47 rifle in the bathroom of the Wendy's on Lafayette Street Saturday night was also charged with a similar "swatting" call on Palmer Street on Friday.

Police said they responded to the 9-1-1 call at the Wendy's at about 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and found no evidence of a gun on the premises following a search of the restaurant. Police said they were able to track the call to Lafayette Park and then had police dispatch the mobile phone to help identify the suspect.

Police said Justin Perez, 23, was located and arrested without incident.

Police said further investigation identified Perez as a suspect in a similar hoax gun threat called on Palmer Street on Friday.

Perez was charged with multiple violations of the state law prohibiting making false reports to police and false reports of threats to the public.

"The intentional misuse of the 9-1-1 system, such as these 'swatting' incidents, are a serious offense that causes panic, puts individuals at risk and necessitates a police response," Salem police said on Monday. "The Salem Police Department takes the misuse of the 9-1-1 system seriously and will vigorously investigate such calls."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)