Man Faces 13 Charges After Repeated Bogus 'Swatting' Calls: South Jersey Police

GLOUCESTER COUNTY, NJ — A man staying at a South Jersey motel made numerous false calls to police saying a person with a gun was inside local businesses about to shoot themselves, officials said.

Monroe Township Police announced the arrest of Rakim D. Anderson on 13 counts of false public alarm, and said he made multiple "swatting" calls to the Gloucester County Emergency Response Center over the course of June and July.

Police said Anderson, 28, of Willingboro had been staying temporarily at the Pike Inn Motel when he made the calls between June 23 and July 20.

Each time, police said, Anderson named a business along or near Black Horse Pike and said someone was inside threatening to shoot themselves.

"The calls prompted a thorough police response during each event, which often caused a disruption to our businesses," police in the township said.

Officers located and arrested Anderson in Delanco (Burlington County) on a warrant Oct. 6, officials said. Officers charged him with 13 counts of false public alarm and took him to Salem County Jail, according to a news release.

"Calls made to our Communications Center that report fake emergencies that consume emergency services and also increase the risk to the public will always be thoroughly investigated," police said.

Officers identified Anderson after a three-month investigation and collected "various digital evidence," the press release said.