A man who police said made multiple calls alleging bomb scares, threats and other threatening circumstances, including to Redwood City police, has been arrested by San Jose authorities.
The "swatting calls" mainly took place in San Jose between Sept. 1 and Sept. 11, San Jose police said in a press release on Sept. 14. A swatting call is a hoax regarding a serious crime in progress that is designed to cause a large response from law enforcement, the department said.
On Sept. 11, an out-of-state police department reported to San Jose police that they received an online message from a resident at a San Jose residence claiming he was going to kill his family. Officers responded to the home and found All of the occupants were unharmed. Police also didn't perceive any threat to safety. Officers had responded to a prior swatting call involving the same address on Sept. 4 after a man claimed he was going to shoot himself, police said.
San Jose police also responded to calls about alleged bomb threats at Yerba Buena High School and the San Jose Unified School District during the same period. The unknown person claimed he lived at that same residential address and planned to blow up the campuses.
The man continued to make threats and swatting calls in Redwood City and Kansas City, Missouri, police said.
San Jose police identified the alleged caller as the ex-boyfriend of a woman living at the San Jose residence. The man had a history of allegedly making threats against the woman and her current husband. He had an active felony warrant for his arrest, police said.
Officers and the San Jose Police Department Assaults Unit obtained a search warrant for his residence and found electronic evidence, they said. The man was booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail for his active warrant and other charges.
Anyone with any information regarding the investigation is urged to contact Detective Martinez #4533 of the San José Police Department Assaults Unit at 4533@sanjoseca.gov or 408-277-4161.
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