Hermosa Beach PD respond to a false ‘swatting’ call

Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach Police Officers respond to a suspected shooting in Hermosa. The call was ultimately determined to be a “swatting” prank. Photo

Hermosa Beach Police responded to what was ultimately determined to be a prank call this afternoon, in the area of 31st Street and Palm Drive, shutting down streets for more than an hour.

Police were called to the scene when they received a report of a possible shooting call around 2 p.m. They were backed up by officers from the Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach and Hawthorne Police Departments, as well as a Long Beach Police Helicopter.

The investigation was called off around 3:45 p.m., when officers determined the call to be a “swatting” hoax call incident.

In a release, HBPD urged the community to understand the consequences of hoax calls. “Swatting calls expend a tremendous amount of police resources, impacting the ability for police departments to respond to legitimate calls for service,” the statement said, noting  that, depending on circumstances, swatting can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony.

No suspects have yet been identified in the hoax call.