Fall River Police Investigate Dangerous ‘Swatting’ Hoax on Stafford Road

FALL RIVER (WBSM) — Fall River Police are investigating a hoax in which a person claimed to have killed his parents and threatened to harm two children and kill any police officers who attempted to intervene.

Emergency Response on Stafford Road

At about 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 8, Fall River Police received a 911 call from an anonymous person “who claimed to have killed his parents and stated that two children were still alive inside the residence,” according to a police Facebook post. “The caller threatened to harm the children if anyone attempted to enter and also made threats to kill responding police officers.”

Officers immediately responded to the 300-block of Stafford Road to follow up on the call and established a perimeter around the area. They also called in the Emergency Services Unit to assist.

Police said that following a thorough investigation, it was determined that the call was a hoax and that there was no ongoing threat to the public.

Get our free mobile app

Fall River Police Vow Accountability for False Reports

“Our investigation is continuing in an effort to identify the individual responsible for making this call,” police said. “Those who intentionally make false emergency reports should understand that we will investigate these incidents and seek to hold those responsible accountable for not only the crime but also the costs.”

The Rising Danger of Swatting Hoaxes

These hoax calls, often referred to as “swatting,” have been on the rise, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

“Hoax emergency calls of this nature are not harmless pranks. They place residents and responding officers at unnecessary risk and divert significant police personnel and resources away from legitimate emergencies occurring throughout our city,” Fall River Police said.