Police say Sault swatting suspect made multiple fake 911 calls to Florida police

A 20-year-old from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., has been charged in what police are calling swatting incidents linked to the Florida community of Ocala. (File)

A 20-year-old from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., has been charged in what police are calling swatting incidents linked to the Florida community of Ocala.

He is accused of making fake 911 calls to police in Ocala linked to someone he knows in the community.

Swatting is when someone calls 911 and reports a fake emergency. The charge of public mischief can be laid when someone causes police to enter an investigation under false pretenses.

The first instance took place Feb. 16 around 4 p.m.

“The accused called the Marion County Sheriff’s Office in Ocala, Fla., and told 911 communicators they were driving to a local school with a gun to shoot students and staff,” Sault police said in a news release Friday.

“Marion County Sheriff officers responded with a significant police presence to protect public safety. After a thorough investigation officers determined there was no immediate threat to public safety.”

A day later at 5:30 a.m., the accused again called the Marion County Sheriff’s Office “and told them they were holding a victim hostage at gunpoint at a residence in Ocala, Florida,” police said.

“Responding officers secured the residence and determined all occupants were safe and there was not someone being held hostage.”

Marion County police called their counterparts in the Sault on March 18 to let them know what was going on.

“Through a joint investigation, it was determined the accused had made dozens of false calls to the Marion Country Sheriff’s office regarding someone the accused knows in their jurisdiction,” Sault police said.

The suspect was arrested March 20 at his residence. He is charged with three counts each of public mischief and conveying false information.

The accused was held in custody pending a bail hearing and subsequently released and is scheduled to appear in court on April 22.

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