The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and other local law enforcement agencies responded to a residence in Standish on Sunday after a man called to say he had shot his girlfriend and was going to harm others. The call, according to Chief Deputy Naldo Gagnon, turned out to be a hoax.
According to Gagnon, the Cumberland County Regional Communications Center received the call from a male subject at approximately 7:45 p.m. saying he had shot his girlfriend. He also disclosed that there were two other subjects present that he was going to harm as well. The male gave the location of the incident at 333 Bonny Eagle Road in Standish.
Deputies from the sheriff’s office along with members of the Gorham Police Department, Maine State Police, Maine Warden’s Service, Buxton Police Department and Standish Fire/ Rescue Department responded. The Cumberland County Emergency Services Unit was also activated. Contact was made with the residents at 333 Bonny Eagle Road who were not in harm’s way and were unaware of any issues.
Gagnon said police believe the call was a hoax known as “swatting.” Swatting, he said, is a new trend where someone calls in a false report requiring a full-scale tactical response from police agencies.
The sheriff’s office is investigating the incident due to the severity of the false report. Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff’s office attention to Detective John Fournier.
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