The Highlands Police Department responded to a swatting hoax on the evening of Jan. 7 after Macon County Dispatch received multiple calls reporting threats at several locations throughout the town.
Authorities said the calls, which came in around 7 p.m., claimed there were threats against the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation, Highlands Fire and Rescue, and two town employees, including Police Chief Andrea Holland. Officers from both the Highlands Police Department and the Macon County Sheriff’s Office responded to the church, which was unoccupied at the time, and stationed officers at the fire department. Officers also checked on the residences of the targeted individuals.
Officials said the incident was quickly determined to be a hoax, consistent with previous swatting incidents. The callers used technology to mask their locations and used fake or “throwaway” phone numbers to hide their identities, police said.
The incidents in Highlands are part of a growing pattern of similar hoaxes in communities across the United States in recent weeks:
• On Dec. 17, police in Hudson, Mass., responded to Hudson High School after a caller falsely reported armed students inside. The school was locked down, cleared by police, and the report determined to be unfounded.
• On Jan. 6, a false threat led to a large police presence at North Dallas High School in Dallas, Texas. At least 35 police units responded before authorities determined there was no credible threat.
• On Jan. 8, officers from multiple agencies, including the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office and Georgia State Patrol, converged on a residence in Toccoa, Ga., after a report of a barricaded gunman holding hostages. Police found no hostages or weapons and classified the incident as another swatting hoax.
• On Jan. 9, two schools in Boyd County, Ky., received swatting threats from a phone number linked to a similar incident in Texas on Jan. 6. Local police determined there was no credible threat.
Police believe most of these threats originate outside local communities. In some cases, hoaxers have monitored law enforcement responses via live-stream cameras. Even when these individuals cannot directly observe the law enforcement response, they still seek attention through community reaction, publicity, and reports of police activity.
Investigators warn that many swatting calls are made using computers or phones infected with malware, enabling malicious actors to conceal their identities and locations. On Jan. 12, an Australian teenager was charged in connection with multiple hoax calls that falsely claimed mass shootings were underway at major U.S. educational institutions and retailers. Although no direct link ties this suspect to the Highlands incidents, the arrest underscores that swatting calls can originate from anywhere in the world, posing significant challenges for investigators seeking to track down perpetrators.
Chief Holland said the department will continue working with all available local, state and federal resources to identify the source of the swatting calls. Holland urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement as the investigation continues.
- Josh Bryson
editor@highlandsnews.com