Police and fire converge on Lacey address following hoax 911 call

Lacey police and fire crews were dispatched to a report of a stabbing Friday afternoon that turned out to be a hoax 911 call, sometimes referred to as “swatting,” a spokesman for the department said.

About 4:50 p.m., police and fire were dispatched to a residence in the 4400 block of Wellington Loop Southeast, which is just east of College Street and 45th Avenue Southeast.

Emergency responders arrived to find an unoccupied home, although the caller had allegedly stated that “mom had stabbed the caller’s little sister.” That was followed by a scream and then the caller hung up, Sgt. Jeremy Knight said.

Although there was a scream, the caller’s voice prior to that moment was very calm, he said. Police also think the caller used an app to mask their voice, Knight said.

While police investigated, a neighbor told police that an older adult couple lived in the home with no children. That was later confirmed by the police themselves when they communicated with the couple, who were out of the area, via their Ring doorbell, Knight said.

Anyone with information about the hoax call is asked to call Lacey police at 360-459-4333. The crime of false reporting can be treated as a gross misdemeanor or a felony, according to Washington state law.