A Canadian man, aged 20, is facing charges after allegedly making multiple swatting calls to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office in Florida. The accused, identified as William Tuckett, has been charged with three counts of public mischief and three counts of conveying false information.
Swatting, a dangerous hoax, involves falsely reporting violent crimes to prompt a SWAT team response. Tuckett is accused of making fake reports, including a school shooting threat and a hostage situation, which were later confirmed to be hoaxes.
The incidents occurred over a two-month period, with Tuckett allegedly calling the sheriff's office claiming he was heading to a local school with a gun to harm students and staff. Another call involved a false hostage situation at a residence in Ocala, Florida.
Law enforcement responded to each call, only to discover that there was no actual threat to public safety in either case. Following a joint investigation between the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Sault Ste. Marie Police in Ontario, Tuckett was arrested at his residence.
After being held in custody pending a bail hearing, Tuckett has since been released. He is scheduled to appear in court on April 22 to face the charges brought against him.
Swatting incidents are not only illegal but also pose serious risks to public safety. Authorities emphasize the importance of reporting such false emergencies to prevent unnecessary deployment of law enforcement resources and potential harm to innocent individuals.
