RYE, N.Y., June 28 (UPI) -- Rye, N.Y., police condemned "swatting" -- trying to get a police response with a hoax call -- after a false report of a home invasion and hostage situation.
A large number of police officers arrived at a home in Rye Wednesday after receiving a report of a possible home invasion and hostage situation, which turned out to be a hoax, The Journal News, White Plains, N.Y., reported.
Rye Police Commissioner William Connors said police first received a message through the department's line for hearing-impaired people, claiming three men were inside the home with a shotgun. Whoever sent the message said the men had shot a female in the house.
However, when 25 to 30 officers arrived at the scene, they found a woman and three teenagers there, unharmed.
Connors said the source of the 911 report was being investigated but there was "no reason to believe the people in the house were involved with this."
"This is likely an example of 'swatting,'" Connors said. "The hazard caused by this is huge. It's a waste of resources and there's a risk to the community from having to deploy officers like this in the field."
