A Dorner-Related SWATting?

Well of course this catches my attention a bit, given that I was pretty famously SWATted too.  For those unfamiliar with the term, let me give you a concrete example.  When my friend Patrick Frey was SWATted, what happened was this.  Someone called the police.  Using some kind of hacker trick, they tricked the police’s phone system into believing they were calling from Patrick’s phone even though they were not.  While on the phone, this person claimed to be Patrick and stated that he just shot his wife.

You can listen to the SWATting call, here.

The intention was to invoke an extreme police reaction, such as calling out the SWAT team.  Of course in this the term “SWATting” is a bit of misnomer because in most of the SWATtings I know of, no actual SWAT teams are involved.

In Patrick’s case, the result was truly a dangerous situation.  The cops came to his house with their guns drawn and he had a cell phone in hand.  One wrong move and he could have been killed.  My SWATting, which you can read about here, was not in fact as dangerous, although the intent on the part of the SWATter was obviously to create a similar situation.

So as you know, Chris Dorner is the man who has allegedly gone on a killing spree, killing the daughter and son-in-law of a man who once represented him in a administrative hearing as well as shooting two other cops and killing a third.  I blogged about him earlier today, here.  There is reportedly a massive manhunt and reportedly the LAPD has its hands full trying to contain this threat.  And the cops are very much on edge, having shot two innocent people.  So it is particularly dangerous if it turns out that someone used the fear of Dorner to SWAT someone:

Dorner manhunt: San Diego sighting is hoax; officials look at charges

San Diego authorities are looking at possible charges after determining that a reported sighting of fugitive ex-police officer Christopher Dorner -- an incident that prompted a six-hour search -- was a hoax.

A cellphone call about 10:20 p.m. Thursday led deputies to respond to a home near the Barona Indian Reservation, said San Diego County Sheriff's Lt. Jason Rothlein. Authorities were able to enter the home early Friday morning and confirmed that Dorner was not inside, he said.

Officials questioned the legitimacy of the report because the caller often changed and embellished the story, Rothlein said.

The caller initially reported a suspicious person, later claimed there were gang members in the area, then said the suspicious person was the caller's brother, he said. The caller then said the suspicious person was a man wanted for murder, was someone on the news, and finally claimed the reported person was Dorner.

Toward the end of the article in particularly, they suggested that this was indeed being looked at as a possible SWATting:

Investigators were able to "come up with some very good information" about the person responsible for the call, Rothlein said, and they plan to review the matter for possible charges. Rothlein said there were a variety of options for charges, including obstruction of justice and falsely reporting an emergency.

Rothelin said authorities could also look to charges filed in connection with  "swatting" incidents, the prank calls made to draw heavy police response.

It’s speculation at this point whether it is a SWATting or not.  But it goes without saying that if this was any kind of hoax, this should be treated very seriously.

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My wife and I have lost our jobs due to the harassment of convicted terrorist Brett Kimberlin, including an attempt to get us killed and to frame me for a crime carrying a sentence of up to ten years.  I know that claim sounds fantastic, but if you read starting here, you will see absolute proof of these claims using documentary and video evidence.  If you would like to help in the fight to hold Mr. Kimberlin accountable, please hit the Blogger’s Defense Team button on the right.  And thank you.

Follow me at Twitter @aaronworthing, mostly for snark and site updates.  And you can purchase my book (or borrow it for free if you have Amazon Prime), Archangel: A Novel of Alternate, Recent History here.  And you can read a little more about my novel, here.

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Disclaimer:

I have accused some people, particularly Brett Kimberlin, of reprehensible conduct.  In some cases, the conduct is even criminal.  In all cases, the only justice I want is through the appropriate legal process—such as the criminal justice system.  I do not want to see vigilante violence against any person or any threat of such violence.  This kind of conduct is not only morally wrong, but it is counter-productive.

In the particular case of Brett Kimberlin, I do not want you to even contact him.  Do not call him.  Do not write him a letter.  Do not write him an email.  Do not text-message him.  Do not engage in any kind of directed communication.  I say this in part because under Maryland law, that can quickly become harassment and I don’t want that to happen to him.

And for that matter, don’t go on his property.  Don’t sneak around and try to photograph him.  Frankly try not to even be within his field of vision.  Your behavior could quickly cross the line into harassment in that way too (not to mention trespass and other concerns).

And do not contact his organizations, either.  And most of all, leave his family alone.

The only exception to all that is that if you are reporting on this, there is of course nothing wrong with contacting him for things like his official response to any stories you might report.  And even then if he tells you to stop contacting him, obey that request.  That this is a key element in making out a harassment claim under Maryland law—that a person asks you to stop and you refuse.

And let me say something else.  In my heart of hearts, I don’t believe that any person supporting me has done any of the above.  But if any of you have, stop it, and if you haven’t don’t start.