Police Investigating If Report Of Hostage Situation In Eastchester Was Case Of 'Swatting'
EASTCHESTER, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Police and SWAT teams swarmed a house in Eastchester, New York Saturday evening after reports of a violent hostage situation.
Police had guns drawn and officers were in full protective gear, but they said no one was home, CBS2 reported.
Authorities are now investigating whether it was a hoax and a case of "swatting."
A similar incident in Cliffside Park, New Jersey occurred just a few hours later, CBS2 reported.
Police confirmed to CBS2 that the call about a hostage situation was a hoax.
It is unclear if the two cases are connected.
On Friday, police responded to a report of a hostage in Upper Freehold Township and discovered it was a hoax.
A false report of an armed intruder also led police to lockdown a school in Holmdel earlier in the week and police responded to a hostage situation at a video game store in Clifton last Saturday that turned out to be a hoax.
Police warn "swatting" or calling in a fake emergency is dangerous. It puts first responders and citizens in harm's way.