Dangerous prank calls draw SWAT teams to unsuspecting homes

[krispos42]

Oh, goodie, more fun with unnecessary SWAT teams...

Dangerous prank calls draw SWAT teams to unsuspecting homes

02:13 PM CST on Sunday, December 23, 2007

By JASON TRAHAN / The Dallas Morning News

As SWAT officers surrounded an Alvarado home in rural Johnson County, they steeled themselves for a confrontation with what they believed to be a drug-crazed man armed with an AK-47 who had already killed his wife, taken hostages and wanted to kill police.

But what they found was an innocent 60-year-old trucker. No bloody crime scene, no assault rifle – only unanswered questions.

<snip>

Authorities say that for months, the defendants called and harassed Mr. Proulx, his wife and daughter. At times, callers posed as a police officer, prodding Mr. Proulx before the real SWAT team's arrival.

"These goofballs, when they were calling us, they were threatening us, urging me to come out with a gun," Mr. Proulx said. "They wanted me to get blown away."

The Dallas FBI says that in addition to Johnson County, the group has attempted to get SWAT teams called out in Fort Worth, Dallas, Highland Park, Garland and Mesquite. In Texas, calls have been reported in Victoria, Houston, Tyler and Lubbock.

<more>

http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/khou071223_tnt_swating.44853527.html

I'm sure that somehow this will lead to more SWAT team operations. "Gee, now we can't tell if it's a real one or a fake one. Guess we're gonna need more SWAT teams!"

[aikoaiko]

1. Someone is going to hurt doing that.

[T Wolf]

2. Give your repuke neighbor a surprise Xmas gift this year. With the tendency of

cops to shoot first and then make up questions later, it might be a good way to cleanse the neighborhood.

At the least, it would liven up a cold winter day.

[TomInTib]

3. The sorry bastards sure go soft when caught, don't they?

""He's very sorry for what he's done," said Victor Vital, the attorney. "He's not offering any excuses. In pleading guilty, he acknowledges any harm he's caused anybody and he realizes he has to change his life. The first step is to help the government prosecute other perpetrators, and that's what he's doing."

"Ms. Roberson's attorney says she regrets her involvement with the other defendants and accepts responsibility for her actions."

"Not a day goes by that my client doesn't regret that she ever got involved with these guys," said Eric Davis, Ms. Roberson's attorney. "She's trying to move forward with her life. She's taking responsibility for her part in this."


Screw 'em. Let them work off the restitution at a dollar a day.

[Wiley50]

5. Hey Dude! Check your inbox n/t

[annabanana]

4. I hope they get a handle on this stuff...

"The spoof cards used by the defendants to alter their caller ID information are legal and work like a calling card."

All around bad & dangerous stuff..

[cloudbase]

6. Very high "oops" potential here. n/t