SHOTS FIRED: Dad shot, Mom held hostage, son hiding - NOT!
A fake call made to a Morgantown Police Department number early Sunday morning - not 911 - resulted in the unnecessary dispatch of an array of Butler County law enforcement officers and emergency personnel. The male caller, who falsely identified himself as Sean Sebastian, reported a shooting at 4867 Brooklyn Road in north Butler County.
Specifically, the caller told dispatch that someone had broken into their home, shot his father, taken his mother hostage, and that he was hiding from the assailant in the home. The caller further indicated that the perpetrator was searching for him and that he "could see blood."
The caller provided a fraudulent cell phone number but the number he was actually calling from showed up as a "Blocked" call at dispatch. Since the call was made through the city police phone line and not actually 911, the number and identity of the caller have yet to be determined.
Butler County Sheriff Scottie Ward, Sheriff's Deputy Bobby Hooten, Morgantown Police Officer Denny Deweese, Butler County EMS, the Morgantown Fire Department, and ultimately AirEvac were all dispatched to the scene - which upon arrival turned out to be an abandoned home. A sign on the two-story home indicates the house is in foreclosure and is property of a mortgage company.
In a related incident, the Livingston County Sheriff's Department received a call at approximately 12:04 a.m. - just prior to the local call - reporting a house fire at the same 4867 Brooklyn Road in Butler County. According to Sheriff Ward, it is currently unclear as to the possible connection between the two incidents.
Butler County EMS Director Brian McKinney has been in contact with AT&T in an effort to identify the number from which the call was made and/or the identity of the caller. According to McKinney, AT&T hasn't been able to identify the caller, though those efforts are ongoing.
Law enforcement officers did locate the real Sean Sebastian at his home in Morgantown. Sebastian stated to police that he had not made any call and that he had just returned home from serving in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Making a False Report is a misdemeanor, though Sheriff Ward indicated that the perpetrator would likely face additional and possibly more serious charges once arrested.
Butler County EMS and the Butler County Sheriff's Department are jointly investigating this incident.
Stay connected to Beech Tree News/WLBQfor the latest on this developing story.
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Story by John Embry, Beech Tree News.
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