Massive Police Response After Fake Hostage Situation In Arlington

ARLINGTON, VA — An alarming early morning call to Arlington County Police that a family was being held hostage in the Ft. Myer neighborhood Thursday morning turned out to be false, and police are trying to identify the caller.

The Arlington County Emergency Communications Center received a call at 6:05 a.m. from an anonymous person "claiming to be holding a family hostage in the 1200 block of Ft. Myer Drive," according to a report from the Arlington County Police Department.

"Due to the elevated level of threat by the caller, the Arlington County Police Emergency Response Team and Arlington County Fire Bomb Squad were deployed," the report states. "Members of the SWAT Team made contact with the occupants of the residence and during the course of the investigation, it was determined that no crime had occurred. A protective sweep of the residence was conducted with negative results."

Police gave the all-clear at around 8:48 a.m., nearly three hours after the initial call.

Police are conducting an investigation into the identity of the caller, and are asking anyone with information to contact police at 703-558-2222, or to provide an anonymous tip by calling 1-866-411-TIPS.

Image via ACPD