ELK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged case of swatting in Elk County. Dozens responded to the hoax.
Just after 12:30a.m. Tuesday, Elk County emergency 911 dispatch center received a phone call from a man who stated he had “just shot his wife," according to the Elk County Sheriff's office.
The caller told the dispatcher that he was holding his child hostage and had dumped gas all over the house. The caller also informed Dispatch that if he witnessed any law enforcement around his house, he would shoot the child and set the house on fire.
While dispatchers were gathering more information from the caller, they heard what they believed to be three-gun shots before the phone call was terminated by the caller.
Elk County Deputies were dispatched to the address that was given by the caller, along with Elk County EMS.
Deputies set up a perimeter around the residence at the address given and gave announcements and instructions to residents of the house over the P. A. system.
During an investigation of the situation, it was determined that this was a prank or what we know to be called a “swatting call.”
Sheriff John Walker said that swatting calls are becoming more and more frequent and “just as dangerous as the real calls, not only to Law Enforcement but to the public as well.”
Law enforcement continues to investigate, according to Walker.
Sheriff John Walker said they also dispatched the Montgomery County Community Emergency Response Team and their EMS unit.
The Kansas Highway Patrol and the Kansas Highway Patrol Aircraft unit were dispatched as well as Kansas Wildlife and Parks Officers. Chautauqua County Deputies were also dispatched to the scene.