Comox Valley RCMP say a call that prompted a “co-ordinated and extensive police response” on Sunday turned out to be a “swatting” incident — an intentional false alarm.
Swatting involves making a prank call to generate police activity at a specific location. It is based on the term SWAT, short for Special Weapons and Tactics, which is the name for a specialized police unit that deals with emergency situations.
Police quickly determined that Sunday’s incident on Conrad Road in Courtenay was a hoax.
“The consequences of swatting extend beyond the immediate disruption caused to law enforcement and the community,” police said in a statement. “These incidents divert vital resources away from genuine emergencies, and as such this matter is still under active investigation to determine where the call came from and who is responsible.”
The details of the call to police have not been released.
Police ask anyone with information on the case to contact Comox Valley RCMP at 250-338-1321.
