Crime & Safety
Internet Prank Leads to Swat Team Response in Ellington
A possible shooting was reported, but it was a false alarm.
There is nothing funny about wasting taxpayers money. But unfortunately a group of “pranksters” thinks its funny.
On Friday afternoon someone called State Police reporting a possible shooting and a man barricaded in his house at 28 Brockway Road in Ellington.
Police responded and took the threat credibly but when they arrived it was a false alarm, and it was an example of an internet prank, WFSB 3 reports.
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The goal is to get a swat team response when there is no emergency. This has happened eight times in the past two months in Connecticut and each time it wastes taxpayers between $10,000-$20,000, WFSB reports.
Read the full WFSB 3 report here.
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