Hamilton police have arrested a teenager from Ottawa related to a series of swatting incidents that recently took place in the southern Ontario city.
Swatting involves making fake calls to emergency services, causing them to respond unnecessarily and wasting valuable resources that could be used for real emergencies.
Authorities investigated seven reported cases during December and January, ultimately determining those calls were not genuine.
In every instance, the caller claimed a serious crime was occurring and demanded an immediate police response, according to a news release from the police.
The false reports included accusations of domestic violence, shootings, and homicides, all intentionally targeting residential locations within Hamilton, as stated by police.
After conducting a search at an Ottawa home and seizing several electronic devices for analysis, Hamilton police charged a 14-year-old with public mischief on Wednesday.
“Swatting incidents place an enormous and unacceptable strain on emergency services,” according to a news release from Hamilton police.
“Each false report diverts police officers from legitimate emergencies, undermines the community’s access to timely police response, and creates unnecessary risks to both public and officer safety.”
The accused has been released from custody and is expected in court in February. They cannot be named due to provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
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