R.W.P.D. Swatting Incidents

The Red Wing Police Department (RWPD) recently participated in an unusual investigation, collaborating with federal and international partners.

Police Chief Nick Sather says on October 14 and October 16, RWPD officers and Red Wing firefighters responded to two separate emergency calls reporting multiple shooting victims at a residence in the 1300 block of East Avenue.

Both calls were quickly determined to be “swatting” incidents—false reports intended to trigger a large-scale armed response.

Sather says the calls were suspicious but they had to take them very seriously.

Sather says RWPD’s Investigations Unit launched an extensive inquiry, uncovering ties to an organized cybercrime network.  

RWPD worked with law enforcement authorities in the United Kingdom and on October 24th an arrest was made overseas in direct connection to the Red Wing incidents.

Sather says the people involved are connected to an extremist group recognized as a terrorist organization by the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI.