Police Arrest 19-Year-Old After 'Swatting' Incident

HARTLAND, WI — Authorities in Hartland say they've arrested a 19-year-old man for his involvement in a "swatting" incident that resulted in the lock down of a local elementary school in April 2019.

Authorities say "swatting" is a crime in which a person falsely reports a serious incident to police. In "swatting," the caller describes an incident that never took place.

According to information released by Hartland Police Chief Torin Misko, officers were dispatched to a potentially life-threatening incident in the 600 block of Ridgeway Place just after 2 p.m. on April 9.

Misko said the reported incident resulted in having the nearby Hartland South Elementary School being placed on a precautionary lock down. When officers investigated the incident, they learned that the incident never took place, and had been falsely reported.

Misko said authorities continued to investigate the case, and on June 27, officers executed a search warrant in the City of Middleton. The warrant resulted in the arrest of a 19-year-old man who was wanted in connection with the April 9 incident in Hartland.

Authorities say they're recommending charges of terrorist threats, first-degree recklessly endangering safety, unlawful use of a computerized communication system and obstructing an officer.