AVALON, NJ — The Avalon Police Department and the Cape May County SWAT Team were deployed twice this weekend in response to “swatting” incidents, where hoax calls were made to law enforcement claiming serious crimes had occurred.
On Sunday, August 18th, at 4:22 PM, a distressing call was received by the Cape May County Joint Dispatch Center, alleging a murder at a residence on the 7700 block of Dune Drive in Avalon.
The caller ominously warned that responding officers might also be endangered. Upon arriving and conducting a thorough search, authorities found renters at the property who confirmed that no such crime had occurred. The scene was declared clear without any incident.
The previous day, Saturday, August 17th, at 10:17 AM, another false report was made to the dispatch center about a bomb threat at a hotel close to Sunday’s incident location. Avalon Police, alongside Cape May County Sheriff’s office K9 unit, responded promptly. The hotel was searched, but no bomb was located, and the building was subsequently cleared.
These hoax calls, known as “swatting,” aim to provoke a heavy police response to non-existent threats. The Avalon Police, in collaboration with the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office, are investigating these incidents vigorously. They have issued a stern warning that individuals identified in connection with these swatting incidents will face serious legal repercussions.
The Avalon Police Department is urging anyone with information related to these hoax calls to contact them at (609) 967-3411, as part of their ongoing efforts to prevent such disruptive and dangerous incidents.
