MILFORD, MA — A 16-year-old from Woodlawn, Tennessee, has been charged in connection with a series of swatting incidents that targeted a Milford residence and high school between November and December.
The Milford Police Department Detective Bureau investigated three separate false reports of violent crimes made to the Milford Public Safety Communications Center from Nov. 6 through Dec. 8.
On Nov. 6 at approximately 8:30 a.m., the communications center received a call from Pizza Palace, located at 8 Beach Street, regarding an online order that contained notes claiming a resident at the delivery address was being held hostage by two individuals.
Responding officers determined the report was unfounded and confirmed all residents were safe.
On Dec. 7 at approximately 10:21 p.m., the communications center received a call on its business line from a male identifying himself as “Kevin.”
The caller claimed he had placed 23 pipe bombs at the same residence involved in the previous swatting call.
Officers again determined the report was unfounded and confirmed the safety of all residents.
On Dec. 8 at approximately 9:58 a.m., the communications center received another business line call from a male identifying himself as “Kevin.”
The caller reported he was hiding in a bathroom near the cafeteria of Milford High School, located at 31 West Fountain Street, and claimed a male was walking through the hallways with a firearm.
Responders from the Milford Police Department, Milford Fire Department, Coastal EMS, Massachusetts State Police, Massachusetts Environmental Police, Bellingham Police Department and Hopedale Police Department arrived on scene.
The school was placed into lockdown, and multiple team-based sweeps of the building were conducted before the incident was determined to be a hoax.
The Milford Police Detective Bureau worked with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Massachusetts State Police Fusion Center and the Montgomery County, Tennessee Sheriff’s Office during the investigation.
The teenager was charged with false report to public safety dispatch, two counts; bomb/hijack threat with serious public alarm; and bomb/hijack threat.
