Reported bomb threat in Queen Creek cleared, determined to be ‘swatting’

PHOENIX — A potential bomb threat that was under investigation on Monday morning in Queen Creek has been cleared and was determined to be a “swatting” incident, authorities said.

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) gave the all-clear for the incident near Tangelo Avenue and San Tan Boulevard just after 10 a.m., about an hour and a half after the investigation began.

The sheriff’s office initially said a person reportedly had multiple explosive devices at a home in the area, but that was determined to be false.

A swatting incident is one in which a person places a fake emergency call about a situation, such as an active shooting or bomb threat, to cause a large response from law enforcement, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

MCSO is investigating this incident.

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