A hoax brought the SWAT team to a Chilton home late Wednesday night before officers realized the call was phony.

At about 10:35 p.m., the Calumet County dispatch center received a call involving a residence in the 400 block of S. Madison Street in Chilton. Police and the SWAT team were sent to the home, established a perimeter and evacuated nearby residents as a precaution, according to the Chilton Police Department.

"Through talking with the caller and through investigation we learned this was a hoax and the people in the house were not in any danger," said Calumet County Sheriff's Lt. Mark Wiegert.

There were "indicators" during conversations with the caller that the incident might be a hoax, Wiegert said, but officers take calls seriously until they can determine it's not a real event.

It appears the residence was randomly targeted, he said, and the family does not know who was behind the "swatting," the practice of reporting a fake emergency to prompt law enforcement to deploy bomb squads, SWAT teams and other police units.

Incidents like this are scary for the family and the community. Officers set up a perimeter around the home, evacuated neighbors and had others shelter in place. Officers were able to communicate with the family and they came out of the house.

Wiegert declined to reveal exactly what the caller said, but stated the caller relayed specifics about what he was doing and what he had done.

Investigators are working to track down the caller. Wiegert hopes the caller will be arrested and prosecuted.


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