False report leads to strong police presence

A false report this morning from a man who claimed he had weapons, explosives and would kill people if his demand for $100,000 was not met was taken seriously by law enforcement.

“You can’t take the risk,” said Kirk Fitch, Maricopa assistant chief of police, as officers were beginning to leave the scene after 4 p.m.

Local police and fire personnel were assisted by a regional SWAT team and a DPS bomb squad when they responded to the Glennwildegroves subdivision after a caller claimed he was holding hostages inside a house on Avella Drive near the entrance to the subdivision, Fitch said.

“He said he had guns and explosives and was going to kill people if he didn’t get $100,000,” Fitch said. “We set up a perimeter and attempted to make contact.”

 The homeowner was at work, Fitch said. Police contacted her, obtained a key and entered the house.

 

“We cleared the house,” Fitch said. “We had no indication of anyone in the house. We have no idea who it was.”

Fitch said the homeowner had no idea why someone would make the call and use her address.

 

Law enforcement had set up a staging area at Corvalis and Crestview lanes a couple blocks from the house on Avella Drive, where about two dozen police and fire vehicles were parked.

Fitch guessed the caller was a white male in his 30s. He said if caught the caller could be charged with false reporting, endangerment for putting the safety of the officers at risk and other charges.

 Anyone with information about the caller should call the police department at 520-316-6893.