2 hours ago, Jumper_Dad said:

Seems like schools in Cincy, Louisville, Lexington and Evansville were all "SWAT'ed" today.

As Guru mentioned it's been an issue for several years now but has increased a lot as of late.  Often times, when it's residential homes being targeted, it's often times related to online gaming or some sort of romantic relationship, often times originating online.  The caller uses an internet generate phone number to make it look like a local call.

 

With that said, there's seemingly been an increase of swatting at office buildings, schools etc.  I think a lot of folks responding to these calls are aware that it could be something more serious and sinister.  Each of these incidents could be a person or persons looking at first responders responses to the reported threats.  The fact that this happened regionally at multiple schools, in different regions, will raise red flags.  

3 minutes ago, sportsfan41 said:

As Guru mentioned it's been an issue for several years now but has increased a lot as of late.  Often times, when it's residential homes being targeted, it's often times related to online gaming or some sort of romantic relationship, often times originating online.  The caller uses an internet generate phone number to make it look like a local call.

 

With that said, there's seemingly been an increase of swatting at office buildings, schools etc.  I think a lot of folks responding to these calls are aware that it could be something more serious and sinister.  Each of these incidents could be a person or persons looking at first responders responses to the reported threats.  The fact that this happened regionally at multiple schools, in different regions, will raise red flags.  

This times a million.  What a great decoy if you have a target on "the other side of town."

Technology gives one person much, much more power than at anytime in our past on this rock (except for maybe the forbidden history of extraterrestrial visitation to Earth but that is for another thread).  One person now has the ability to cause a lot of havoc. 

I don't know the answer to this one s41, are there any new laws the last few years that deal with "swatting" or are you stuck using old law that is probably deficient? 

4 hours ago, theguru said:

This times a million.  What a great decoy if you have a target on "the other side of town."

Technology gives one person much, much more power than at anytime in our past on this rock (except for maybe the forbidden history of extraterrestrial visitation to Earth but that is for another thread).  One person now has the ability to cause a lot of havoc. 

I don't know the answer to this one s41, are there any new laws the last few years that deal with "swatting" or are you stuck using old law that is probably deficient? 

I asked a Detective but haven't heard back.  I THINK that the charges have been possibly terroristic threatening and wanton endangerment.  If I'm remembering correctly, the number of counts of wanton endangerment is sometimes based on the number of people in the house if it's at a private residence.  So for example, a house gets swatted and 5 people are in it when the police arrive, that suspect could be charged with 5 counts of wanton endangerment.  

Given how frequently it's happening,  it could certainly use it's own specific laws and it should be a felony.

Some of the local incidents I'm aware of in NKY:  Individuals calling and saying they live at 1234 Main Street in Happyville (fake address for example) and that they killed both of their parents.  Then while police are on the way, they'll tell dispatch that if the police come in or try to come in, the person calling in is going to kill both of their little brothers as well.

There are A LOT of examples of this across the country if you google it.