Hoax emergency calls, known as 'swatting,' could become a felony in Minnesota

The act of falsely reporting an emergency with the intent of sending police to an elected official's home could soon become a felony in Minnesota.

So-called "swatting" incidents already are a gross misdemeanor, but state legislators want to make the act a felony when it targets elected officials, judges, prosecuting attorneys, correctional facility employees and police officers.

"[Swatting] puts those first responders at risk. It puts anyone that may be in that home at risk," House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, who's sponsoring the bill, said during a recent committee hearing. "We also know that swatting would divert our first responders ... away from what could be a true incident."

https://www.startribune.com/hoax-emergency-calls-known-as-swatting-could-become-a-felony-in-minnesota/600357405/