DODGE COUNTY -- The Dodge County Sheriff's Office is warning the public about the seriousness of what is called a "swatting event" -- following an incident that happened this week.
This happens when a SWAT team is called in to help in what turns out to be a false report. The sheriff's office says these types of incidents are not only illegal -- but dangerous.
Most recently, a swatting event occurred between Beaver Dam and Columbus on March 22. Police received a phone call from a man indicating that he shot a male subject and had taken hostages in a residence near US 151 and Forest Road.
When officers and the Dodge County SWAT team responded to the incident. It became evident that there were no shots fired and nobody had been taken hostage. During the situation, however, US 151 was closed from County Highway G to County Highway S for about an hour for the safety of the motoring public.
This puts people on the road and others needing emergency personnel at risk.
"Shortly after this incident was resolved, the sheriff’s office responded to Fox Lake for a report of subjects who had fallen through the ice on the lake. Had our deputies still been tied up on the SWATTING call, it is quite possible that our deputies would not have been able to respond as quickly to that incident and lives could have been put further in jeopardy."
Authorities will be working with the Department of Justice to follow leads about the call.
