ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Mich. – There was a massive police response in Marine City Sunday night after officers thought they were responding to a hostage situation, which ended up being a false report.
Police are calling the false report a “swatting” incident.
The 911 call came in at 6:18 p.m. on April 12, reporting a gunman had taken hostages and issued a list of demands. Police said the caller claimed the shooting would begin if those demands were not met.
Authorities said the caller was using a YouTube live stream from a camera in the area to make their call sound more realistic.
That camera was shut down by police.
The call triggered a massive law enforcement response.
Justin Westmiller, the director of homeland security and emergency management in St. Clair County, called the call a misuse of the 911 system.
“We have at least one fire department here, we’ve got an EMS department here, we’ve got three or four police departments, the sheriff’s department, the sheriff’s department and the Port Huron PD SWAT teams, there’s a lot of resources here,” he said. “As I was saying earlier, it’s a giant waste of resources that could be out in the public helping other folks who may be hurt or injured or need some sort of service and that can’t be provided. It’s on hold right now, because we are doing this.”
He said authorities are investigating who made the call and what charges they could face.
The Office of Cottrellville Township posted on Facebook Sunday evening that officers had been called to a possible active shooter situation in downtown Marine City.
“Out of an abundance of caution, all residents and visitors are asked to stay away from the area until an official all clear is issued. Law enforcement continues to respond. We will provide additional updates as information becomes available,” the post said.
Cottrellville Township borders Marine City.
Here is the full statement from Cottrellville Township:
A public safety incident in Marine City remains active at this time. The situation began shortly before 7:00 p.m. and law enforcement agencies continue to respond.
Marine City borders Cottrellville Township, and the communities share close geographic ties and strong personal connections. Out of an abundance of caution, residents and visitors are strongly advised to stay away from the affected area and avoid downtown Marine City until an official all clear is issued by authorities.
This is a close-knit community, and we understand the concern this situation may cause. Public safety remains the top priority, and coordination with responding agencies is ongoing.
Further updates will be provided as verified information becomes available. An all clear notification will be issued as soon as it is safe to do so.
Cottrellville Township