Fake phone calls, real danger: Warren police see spike in ‘swatting’ calls

Warren police have reported a recent surge in “swatting," with six false emergency calls in the past few weeks prompting armed law enforcement responses. Swatting involves deliberately making false reports of violent crimes to trigger a heavy police presence, putting both residents and officers at risk and costing departments thousands of dollars per event. Department spokesperson Lt. John Gajewski and crime expert Darnell Blackburn highlighted the dangers and the procedures police follow when responding to such threats.