NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP — Police in Newtown Township are continuing to investigate a swatting incident that happened in December and prompted a large police response at a home on Claire Drive.
Police Chief John Hearn, during his report to the board of supervisors on January 14, reported that officers responded quickly to the incident, taking precautionary measures when approaching the house and making sure the property was safe.
Swatting is when someone makes a “malicious hoax call to emergency services to falsely report an emergency” – often times an active shooter – with the goal of provoking a significant law enforcement response, creating chaos and potentially resulting in violence.
“Our investigation continues, but the issue is the way they bounce the phone numbers and IP addresses around it’s hard to track down,” the chief told the supervisors. “We take tactical measures when approaching a property and attempt to make contact with the people and make sure there’s no victims in the house.”
The chief added, “All possible precautions are taken, unfortunately, sometimes in his country, it does go south because people answer the doors with guns in their hands. The officers need to be cognizant that his is happening so it’s incumbent on police radio to give us as much information as possible about the call and where it’s coming from,” he said.
The swatting incident was one of seven new cases opened by township detectives in December.
Hearn reported that during the month the department answered 2,186 calls for service and logged more than 15,000 miles on its patrol fleet.
Police made 10 arrests, including one for indecent assault, one for fraud, one for a juvenile tampering with evidence, two for possession of narcotics, two for driving under the influence and three on warrants from the Bucks County Sheriff’s Department.
Seven new cases were referred to detectives for investigation and three crime scenes were processed including internet crimes against children, the theft of an ATV and a dirt bike, criminal mischief, criminal trespass, a theft involving a credit card flim-flam scam, and the swatting incident.
The department also reported 79 traffic crashes, issued 126 citations and 153 warrants were issued.
Two truck enforcement details were conducted during the month with the Motor Carrier Task Force conducting 51 inspections. Seven citations and 29 warnings were issued, five vehicles were placed out of service, three drivers were taken off the road, and one vehicle was towed.
The department also conducted 25 traffic details at four locations. “We issued 76 warnings and 50 citations,” the chief said.
Notable incidents during the month included responding to a mass casualty gas explosion at the Bristol Health and Rehab Center on Tower Road in Bristol. Two Newtown Township Police supervisors and six officers were assign to the detail.
As a public service announcement, Chief Hearn warned residents to stay alert regarding cyber crimes and AI impersonation attempts.
“Local police department and sheriffs departments will not contact you via email or text saying we have an arrest warrant and requiring money for you to cash up. We will not do that,” said the chief.
“If your grandchildren are locked up, the arresting agency will contact you. Don’t believe anything you are hearing over the phone. Hang up the phone and call your grandson or children directly,” he said “Do not provide gift cards to someone you do not know and do not click on links from unsolicited emails or text messages that you do not recognize.”