Police were dispatched toward Smith’s residence but were called off when they learned it was a false alarm and that everyone inside the home was safe.

Special counsel Jack Smith, who is overseeing the prosecution of former President Donald Trump in two federal cases, was the target of an attempted swatting at his Maryland residence on Christmas Day.

According to two law enforcement sources, someone called 911 and said that Smith had shot his wife at the address where Smith lives.

Montgomery County Police dispatched units toward the home but were called off when the Deputy U.S. Marshals protecting Smith and his family told police that it was a false alarm and that everyone inside the home was safe.

No arrests have been made in connection with the incident.

  • TreeGhost@lemm.ee
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    11 months ago

    Its crazy to me that people think its the telephone companies that need more regulations here and not the police. SWAT teams shouldn’t be going in guns blazing on anonymous calls and any injury or death should be solely their responsibility. By all means try to prosecute the people calling in the first case for misuse of emergency services, if you can identify them, but we all know who pulled the fucking trigger. Police can’t both get to decide that they get to selectively enforce the law and then take no responsibility when the injure or kill innocent people.

    • SuperDuper@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      Police can’t both get to decide that they get to selectively enforce the law and then take no responsibility when the injure or kill innocent people.

      Supreme Extreme Court: That’s where your wrong, bucko.

      • Raiderkev@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        You’d be surprised. Someone swatted my neighbor, and they actually made an arrest. I don’t know if they will have enough evidence to convict, but it was good to see. It was traumatizing for my neighbor. She’s an 80 year old woman who lives with her son. I would assume the guy who did it did so from a spoofed number, but they still managed to track someone down.

        I have no idea why they were even targeted, and neither did they. My money was on someone trying to swat a different neighbor who I always hear loudly talking shit while gaming. He’s always yelling loud enough that I can hear it next door. My thought is they were after him and they just screwed up the address and hit the house next door.

      • TreeGhost@lemm.ee
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        11 months ago

        I think there will always be ways to make anonymous calls regardless of regulations, especially since telephone systems are on the internet, so are vulnerable to hacking and exploits. But if police can be held responsible for the death and injury they cause, then maybe they will stop going in guns blazing and remove the incentive for swatting in the first place.