http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-08-28-hoax-call-sees-youtuber-arrested-by-swat-while-live-streaming
QuoteHoax call sees YouTuber arrested by SWAT while live streaming
Popular YouTube channel The Creatures has become the latest victim of swatting - the act of hoax-calling police to swoop in on unsuspecting innocent targets.
Last night channel founder Jordan "Kootra" Mathewson was interrupted by a SWAT team while live-streaming a match of Counter-Strike.
Footage of the incident, quickly posted to YouTube by another player, shows the moment the cops arrived.
"Uh oh, this isn't good," Kootra is heard to say as he becomes aware of police outside. "They're clearing rooms - what in the world? I think we're getting swatted."
SWAT team members then storm the room, guns drawn, and shout for Kootra to get onto the floor with his hands behind his back.
The stream continues to broadcast as police handcuff him and search him for weapons. Kootra then tries to explain that he thinks they've been called as part of a hoax.
Littleton, Colorado police were responding to an anonymous call from an "active gunman", local ABC affiliate 7 News Denver reported.
"The caller claimed to have shot two co-workers, held others hostage, and threatened to shoot them. He stated that if the officers entered he would shoot them as well," a police spokesperson said.
"There were no victims or any evidence that a shooting had taken place. If the investigation determines that today's incident was a hoax, those involved will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
Swatting has become enough of a problem that California last year passed a law to ensure hoax callers pay the full cost of an emergency SWAT call-out - as much as $10,000 (£6k) - as well as the possibility of up to a year in jail.
It follows the swatting of several high-profile US celebrities, such as Tom Cruise, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, Ashton Kutcher and Sean "P. Diddy" Combs.
The Creatures has yet to publicly comment on the matter. Watch the incident in full below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz8yLIOb2pU
Hoax SWATting? Yeah, nothing's ever going to go wrong with that ... :rolleyes:
I'm the Sultan of SWAT.
Sure you are, babe.
These hoaxers should die :glare:
Wow. That is taking stupid to brand new levels.
Not only is this very possibly going to get some innocent person killed, it is potentially going to make emergency responders less sharp when the incredibly rare real call comes in...christ people are fucking stupid.
Quote from: Syt on August 29, 2014, 12:19:51 AM
.....
Swatting has become enough of a problem that California last year passed a law to ensure hoax callers pay the full cost of an emergency SWAT call-out - as much as $10,000 (£6k) - as well as the possibility of up to a year in jail.
....
:blink:
This may be the first time I've ever found the US criminal justice system to be too lenient.
Even if no other offences are committed in doing this, I think up to 1 year in prison is a rather weak deterrent.
1 year in prison for something which has no appreciable benefits for doing? Deters me well enough.
Prison is a horrible detergent.
:hmm: If I were a betting man, I would place some money on the theory that the guy called the SWAT on himself for publicity.
You are a betting man.
Quote from: DGuller on August 29, 2014, 09:00:41 PM
:hmm: If I were a betting man, I would place some money on the theory that the guy called the SWAT on himself for publicity.
What kind of wannabe internet star would do such a thing? :o
Just watched the video. The guy's reaction seems even more unnatural than it was written out in the article. If SWAT is in your house, you're not going to be smirking to the stream, you're going to be shitting your pants. Your first reaction would not be "lol, I'm getting swatted :)", it would be "wtf, wtf, what's going on there? :unsure:"
Quote from: DGuller on August 30, 2014, 12:11:09 PM
Just watched the video. The guy's reaction seems even more unnatural than it was written out in the article. If SWAT is in your house, you're not going to be smirking to the stream, you're going to be shitting your pants. Your first reaction would not be "lol, I'm getting swatted :)", it would be "wtf, wtf, what's going on there? :unsure:"
I agree. This has all the hallmarks of a stunt, not a prank.