BEAVER COUNTY, Pa. — SWAT officers in Beaver County swarmed a house in Aliquippa early Friday morning after a man called to say he was inside with hostages and weapons and wanted ransom money.
Except he wasn’t.
An elderly couple who lives in the Major Street home was awoken by police who quickly learned the call was a hoax.
“I thought I was dreaming and I heard come out of your house with your hands up,” said Talisa Kimbrew, a neighbor. “It was a complete shock. To have 32 swat members surrounding a house at 2:30 in the morning was a surprise. They were in bed asleep.”
TRENDING NOW:
- 1-year-old found walking alone in diaper in McKeesport
- Police searching for missing endangered woman
- Prank call sparks SWAT situations in Aliquippa, Monaca
- VIDEO: Body pulled from river in Pittsburgh
Investigators tracked the number that made the call to a home 10 minutes away in Monaca. Only Channel 11 was there as tactical units moved in. Police questioned three people in that home, but made no arrests.
“We have contact information,” said David Lozier, the Beaver County district attorney. “We have phone numbers. We are going to find out where the call came from and prosecute them if we can.”
Ultimately, the hours of action were a waste of law enforcement time and taxpayer money, Lozier said.
Authorities will continue tracking the source of the call.