On April 24, 2024, officers responded to the Tiverton home after a receiving a call claiming a man had killed his family and was planning on shooting his dog and himself.
After arriving at the home, officers were able to determine the phone call was a hoax and traced it back to Hungary.
According to the FBI, Hungarian investigators said the suspect acknowledged making the false emergency call during questioning.
Authorities said the man has since been released and is currently fighting the charges filed against him in Hungary.
Swatting is when someone makes a fake emergency call to police, often claiming there is a shooting, hostage situation, or other violent crime happening at a specific address. The goal is usually to trigger a large armed police response, sometimes involving SWAT teams. Authorities say the practice is extremely dangerous because officers respond believing they are entering a real life-threatening situation, which can put victims, neighbors, and first responders at serious risk.
Federal officials have not released additional details about possible extradition proceedings or whether the suspect could eventually appear in a U.S. court.
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