LEESBURG, Va. — Leesburg Police on Thursday arrested an 18-year-old man in connection with a swatting incident involving a false report of armed robbery.
Leesburg resident Caleb Wolfe has been charged with one misdemeanor count of false emergency communication to emergency personnel.
Police say Wolfe called in to report a robbery at a Safeway grocery store around 7 p.m. on Saturday. He reported witnessing two individuals armed with knives rob a male victim at the store located at 437 South King Street.
After conducting an investigation, officers determined the call was a hoax. They were able to identify Wolfe as the caller and issued a summons to have him appear in court.
"Filing a false report not only wastes valuable resources but also creates a significant safety issue by diverting emergency personnel away from where they are truly needed,” Leesburg Police Chief Thea Pirnat said. “This irresponsible behavior generates unnecessary fear and anxiety within our community and undermines the trust that we work hard to build with those we serve."
Advances in technology have allowed a growing number of callers to mask their voices, phone numbers or IP addresses before making false 911 calls to prompt police action, also known as "swatting." Last year, the Federal Bureau of Investigations created a national swatting database to track rising incidences of such false reports. Swatting is a violation of both federal and multiple state laws. In Virginia, swatting is punishable by up to a year in prison.
