POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Two teens from Connecticut and New York have been extradited to Florida after a swatting incident stemming from an online game.
The Polk County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) stated that they have arrested a 15-year-old from Connecticut and a 14-year-old from New York in connection with the alleged incident.
Swatting is defined as an intentional false report of a violent incident intended to elicit an emergency response by a law enforcement agency, according to PCSO.
PCSO said deputies were dispatched to a home at Pilchard Drive in Poinciana on June 4 after reports of gunshots at the residence. The caller said he was 12 years old. Deputies, we went to the home and found no one had been shot, and the 12-year-old who lived at the home did not make the call.
Sheriff Grady Judd said deputies determined the 12-year-old was playing an online game with the two teens. One of the teens playing the game became angry and created a swatting incident about the fake shooting, PCSO said.
The next day, law enforcement in Kissimmee received another call from the same home regarding a second swatting incident.
"This is a very very dangerous event. There has been serious vehicle crashes with deputies and police officers," Judd said. "Deputies rushing to scenes thinking they had a horrific immediate event. There have been all kinds of call-outs , EMS, fire, SWAT teams at some of these swatting incidents across the United States come to find out they're fake."
Both teens are in custody in Polk County and face felony charges for false report concerning the use of firearms and unlawful use of 2-way communication.
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