Police Descend To South Austin In Full Force On False Report Of Hostage Crisis

SOUTH AUSTIN, TX — If you were in South Austin earlier this afternoon and witnessed what may have appeared to be the entire police force rushing along the Interstate 35 service road, fear not: It was a false alarm.

It can be disconcerting to see a barrage of emergency vehicles rushing to the scene of a potential crime. But according to the Austin American-Statesman, the phalanx of emergency vehicles descending on an apartment complex in the 8000 block of I-35 were dispatched to what turned out to be a false alarm on a fictitious hostage situation.

The frenzied police activity was seen north of Slaughter Lane and south of William Cannon Drive at around 2:30 p.m. After emergency first responders arrived, it dawned on them the call had come from a spam number in issuing the false report, the newspaper reported.

No arrests were made. Police have assured there was no threat to the public, but have released no further details.

>>> Read the full story on Austin American-Statesman

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