RIGHT NOW AT 11. >> NEW VIDEO TONIGHT OF CAPE CORAL CUP SWARMING A STREET AFTER SOMEONE CALLED IN AN EMERGENCY. TURNS OUT THIS WAS ONE OF THOSE SWATTING CALLS, JUST ONE OF 2 IN 2 DAYS. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING GULF COAST NEWS. I’M PETER BUSCH AND I’M CHRISTY SOTO. SWATTING IS WHEN SOMEONE CAUSE LAW ENFORCEMENT TO REPORT FAKE EMERGENCY, STAY WORDING RESOURCES AWAY FROM REAL EMERGENCIES. >> GULF COAST NEWS PARK IT IS TALKING TO EXPERTS ABOUT WHY PEOPLE KEEP GETTING AWAY WITH IT. >> POLICE OUT IN FULL FORCE GUNS DRAWN SURROUNDING EAST SOUTHEAST CAPE CORAL ROAD. IF YOU ARE JUST DRIVING BY AND SAW THIS, YOU PROBABLY THINK THIS WAS A MAJOR CRIME SCENE BUT TURNS OUT IT WAS A FAKE CALL FOR HELP. IT’S JUST EASY WAY TO. SCARE SOMEBODY IS DEATH AND A WASTE OF FIRST RESPONDERS. TIME IN YOUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS. SWATTING OR SWAT CAUSE OR WHEN AN ANONYMOUS PERSON MAKES FAKE. POLICE CALLS REPORTING EMERGENCIES IN AN AREA. >> THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED AT ARCADIA WEST ELEMENTARY HERE. IT HAPPENED IN CAPE CORAL OFF SOUTH EAST, 12TH STREET AND DEL PRADO. NOW, RIGHT WHERE I’M STANDING OFF OF CHIQUITA BOULEVARD. IT HAPPENED HERE AS WELL IS TO CAUSE CHAOS. AND FOR ALL THE PEOPLE INVOLVED. IT’S JUST ANNOYING. DON’T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN, ESPECIALLY IN YOUR HOMETOWN. VICTOR HERNANDEZ GOT TURNED AROUND ON HIS MORNING WALK THURSDAY AFTER SEEING OFFICERS IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD OFF CHIQUITA BOULEVARD. >> ANOTHER INCIDENT WEDNESDAY BROUGHT AN EVEN BIGGER. SEEN A CERTAIN POINT. YOU DID SEE WE SAW OFFICERS ROLLING DOWN THE WAY WITH RIFLES AT THE LOW READY. SO WE’RE UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING SERIOUS GOING ON TO CAPE CORAL. SWATTING CALLS IN TODAY’S POLICE. WANT TO REMIND YOU, IT’S A FELONY TO REPORT FAKE CRIMES. JERRY CONNELLY, THE CHIEF OF POLICE AT FSW SAYS IT IS DIFFICULT TO CATCH THE PEOPLE MAKING THE CALLS GENERALLY THEY USE GHOST NUMBERS, DIFFERENT IP ADDRESSES THAT ARE NOT TRACEABLE. CHIEF CONNELLY ALSO SAYS SOME CALLERS AREN’T EVEN IN THE COUNTRY. IT’S DEFINITELY DIFFERENT NOWADAYS. YOU KNOW, IT’S NOT JUST YOUR CELEBRITY IS NOT YOUR INFLUENCERS. IT’S JUST YEAR. REGULAR MOM AND POP CHIEF CONNELLY SAYS EVEN THOUGH LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS LEARNED HOW TO DIFFERENTIATE THE CALLS, THEY STILL NEED TO TREAT EVERY CALL FOR HELP LI
Cape Coral swatting calls disrupt neighborhoods and waste police resources
Two swatting incidents in Cape Coral this week caused chaos and wasted police resources, with authorities emphasizing the felony nature of fake emergency calls.
Updated: 11:29 PM EDT May 8, 2026
Police surrounded a Southeast Cape Coral road with guns drawn this week, responding to what appeared to be a major crime scene, but the incident turned out to be a fake call for help, known as swatting. Swatting involves anonymous individuals making fake police calls to report emergencies in the area. This week, Cape Coral experienced two swatting incidents in two days: one near Del Prado Boulevard and SE 12th Street and another off Chiquita Boulevard.Victor Hernandez, a Cape Coral resident, encountered officers in his neighborhood during his morning walk on Thursday. “You don’t want that to happen, especially in your hometown,” Hernandez said. Another swatting incident on Wednesday created an even larger scene. “At a certain point, you did see officers rolling down the way with rifles at the low ready. So we were under the assumption something serious was going on,” said Eric Mango, assistant manager at Shoot Center. Reporting fake crimes is a felony. However, catching those responsible is difficult, according to Jerry Connolly, chief of police at Florida SouthWestern State College. “Generally, they will use ghost numbers, different IP addresses that are not traceable. Actually identifying them is very difficult. Generally, agencies partner with the FBI,” Connolly said. Connolly added that some callers are not even in the country. “It’s definitely different nowadays. You know, it’s not just your celebrities, your influencers. It’s your regular mom and pops nowadays,” Mango said. Despite advancements in differentiating fake calls from real emergencies, Connolly emphasized that law enforcement must treat every call for help as genuine.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
CAPE CORAL, Fla. —
Police surrounded a Southeast Cape Coral road with guns drawn this week, responding to what appeared to be a major crime scene, but the incident turned out to be a fake call for help, known as swatting.
Swatting involves anonymous individuals making fake police calls to report emergencies in the area. This week, Cape Coral experienced two swatting incidents in two days: one near Del Prado Boulevard and SE 12th Street and another off Chiquita Boulevard.
Victor Hernandez, a Cape Coral resident, encountered officers in his neighborhood during his morning walk on Thursday.
“You don’t want that to happen, especially in your hometown,” Hernandez said.
Another swatting incident on Wednesday created an even larger scene.
“At a certain point, you did see officers rolling down the way with rifles at the low ready. So we were under the assumption something serious was going on,” said Eric Mango, assistant manager at Shoot Center.
Reporting fake crimes is a felony. However, catching those responsible is difficult, according to Jerry Connolly, chief of police at Florida SouthWestern State College.
“Generally, they will use ghost numbers, different IP addresses that are not traceable. Actually identifying them is very difficult. Generally, agencies partner with the FBI,” Connolly said.
Connolly added that some callers are not even in the country.
“It’s definitely different nowadays. You know, it’s not just your celebrities, your influencers. It’s your regular mom and pops nowadays,” Mango said.
Despite advancements in differentiating fake calls from real emergencies, Connolly emphasized that law enforcement must treat every call for help as genuine.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.