St. Thomas police are investigating after they fell victim to calls about a hostage-taking and an armed man at a school that turned out to be hoaxes.
Police say the first call came in on Monday around 8:30 a.m. The caller indicated that a family was being held hostage, but when officers arrived, they found a sleeping family that was clearly not being held hostage. The second call was made to Arthur Voaden Secondary School. The caller said there was a man with a weapon in the school. A code red was issued and school officials called 911. Police responded, but no armed man was found.
"Officers have thoroughly searched both areas and determined that no threat ever existed. There is no threat to public safety," police said in a statement issued Monday afternoon. "The reports are the result of a harassment tactic known as swatting. Swatting is a prank call to emergency services activating a large response of police resource to a particular area."
Police say they are working to find out where the calls came from and who made them. Anyone with information is asked to call St. Thomas police at 519-631-1224 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS
