Ashton Kutcher; Victim of "Swatting" Prank: Police Called to Actor's Home
There's a new prank causing a disturbance to celebrities and the police: swatting.
The latest victim is Ashton Kutcher, the famous prankster himself, who found a slew of police outside his home on Wednesday, Oct. 3.
It appears a fake phone call was made to the Los Angeles Police Department that caused authorities to arrive at Kutcher's residence in the Hollywood Hills. The police were told there was a possible hostage situation and the phony report said there were shots fired. The call itself appeared to be from an unidentified woman that was hiding within Kutcher's house.
"It looks like they called the police, told them there was a shooting inside, somebody was down," said Ed Vallejo, a neighbor who was at the scene, according to CBS News.
The Los Angeles Police responded in full fashion and in a professional manner, but found the scene of the alleged crime was not what they had planned for.
Police Officer Cleon Joseph reported, "Officers did their due diligence and pulled everyone out of the house, interviewed and questioned, and found out it was a hoax."
Authorities say this new prank has become a growing cause for concern as it is putting people at risk.
Officer Joseph said, "Officers put their lives on the line every day and every time they get a call, you know, they're thinking, not just of the people's safety around them, but them and going home to their families."
There's a new term for what Kutcher was put through, with the FBI calling it "swatting." People around the country have been phoning-in fake distress calls for emergency assistance that often result in authorities calling on a SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) team.
But Kutcher's not the only celebrity that's been affected by the hoax.
In August, singer Miley Cyrus had the police called to her home after an emergency call said shots were fired.
Kutcher wasn't at his home when the incident occurred. He tweeted, saying, "Safe and sound at 'Two and a Half Men,' don't miss tomorrow night 8:30."
The police are taking this issue very seriously with the punishment being up to three years in prison and a fine of $10,000 to whoever is caught.
