Full Notification

On Saturday, November 17, 2018 at 8:48 PM, the Middleton Police Department responded to a report of a hostage situation at an apartment complex in the 6300 block of Pheasant Lane.  The cell phone caller reported to a 911 dispatcher that he was being held hostage in a basement at the complex and that the suspect was armed with a gun. The call was disconnected before further information could be gathered.     

This call generated a substantial police response from both the Middleton Police Department and Dane County Sheriff’s Department.  Officers immediately began checking the property and a systematic search was done of the apartment complex, including the basement areas. Officers found no indicators of a problem and residents saw nothing out of the ordinary.

After arriving on scene, responding officers observed two male juveniles, who they recognized from past contacts, leaving the area on foot.  Once officers found no evidence of a problem at the scene, and also discovered inconsistencies after a review of the original 911 call, the two juveniles, ages 12 and 13, were contacted at their residences.  Both boys admitted to their involvement in placing a false 911 call claiming they were being held hostage. One said the call was made as a prank.

This incident highlights the troubling issue of “Swatting,” which has been occurring with more frequency throughout the country and even locally in Dane County. Swatting involves a prank call being placed to a 911 center reporting an emergency situation in an attempt to bring about the dispatch of a large number of police officers to a particular location.  In this case, the prank call resulted in the initial response of 12 police officers from the Middleton Police Department and Dane County Sheriff’s Department, alarming nearby residents, and was a significant drain on police resources for over two hours until the situation was confirmed false.    

This case remains under investigation.  Charges will be forwarded to the Dane County District Attorney’s Office against the juvenile who was primarily involved in placing the 911 call.              

Sergeant Travis J. Kakuske
Middleton Police Department
www.middletonpd.com

Pursuant to the directive of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicity, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.