Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) joined the ranks of elected officials who have been swatted over the Christmas-New Yr’s vacation along with his Naples, Florida house being swatted Wednesday evening. Most of these swatted over the previous week have been Republican officers or conservative activists.
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Scott posted an announcement on Thursday in regards to the incident:
“Final evening, whereas at dinner with my spouse, cowards “swatted” my house in Naples. These criminals wasted the time & sources of our legislation enforcement in a sick try to terrorize my household. Ann & I wish to thank @NaplesPolice & @CollierSheriff for all they do to maintain us secure.”
Final evening, whereas at dinner with my spouse, cowards “swatted” my house in Naples. These criminals wasted the time & sources of our legislation enforcement in a sick try to terrorize my household.
Ann & I wish to thank @NaplesPolice & @CollierSheriff for all they do to maintain us secure.
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) December 28, 2023
WINK-TV posted details in regards to the swatting name (excerpt):
In line with the Naples Police Division, simply after 9 p.m., authorities had been headed to the scene after a name got here in saying a person shot his spouse whereas sleeping 3 times with an AR-15.
…In line with data of the 911 name, simply earlier than 9 p.m., a caller figuring out himself as “Jamal” mentioned he shot his spouse with an AR-15.
Jamal claimed he shot his spouse as a result of she was sleeping with one other man. Jamal then instructed authorities he was holding Michael, his spouse’s boyfriend, hostage and demanding $10,000.
Jamal then instructed authorities he had a pipe bomb. If he was not given the $10,000 he was demanding, Jamal was going to explode the home.
The particular person recognized as Jamal didn’t present any particulars about his spouse or Michael.
Authorities at the moment are saying Jamal’s voice sounded prefer it was computer-generated and synthetic.
Naples police posted a statement Thursday to social media:
On December 27, 2023, at roughly 9:02pm, Naples Police dispatchers obtained a name on our non-emergency line from a person stating {that a} taking pictures occurred within the 3100 block of Gordon Drive. Inside quarter-hour, we had been capable of verify that the occasions didn’t happen, and the incident was a swatting occasion. That is very a lot an energetic and ongoing investigation.
What’s Swatting?
Swatting is outlined as a false report of an ongoing emergency or energetic menace of violence meant to immediate a direct tactical legislation enforcement response. The response typically prompts confusion on the a part of the owners and pulls restricted sources away from different attainable legitimate emergencies.
Swatting is just not a brand new menace. It has developed and features a vary of techniques and strategies used with the intent to trigger false public alarm and divert legislation enforcement sources to a hoax menace. Offenders typically use spoofing know-how to anonymize their very own telephone numbers and or apps/packages to digitize their voices when speaking with dispatchers.
Swatting eventualities embrace bomb threats, energetic shooter eventualities, threats of an imminent taking pictures rampage, hostage eventualities, and threats involving chemical, organic, radiological, nuclear, or explosives brokers.
The motivations for swatting fluctuate and embrace the eye gained from nationwide media protection, used as a type of harassment or prank, revenge, and/or monetary acquire.
Current Swatting Incidents in Naples-Collier County have resulted in rapid legislation enforcement response out of an abundance of warning to make sure the security of the general public. We ask the general public to understand the circumstances and to be affected person with legislation enforcement as we reply to those incidents to make sure the security of all.
As at all times, we’re in partnership with the general public to maintain Naples secure. If one thing “Doesn’t Look Proper“ and/or “If You See One thing suspicious, Say One thing” name us and let the police guarantee all is secure.