Fake Calls Tie Up Police: Schools, Celebs, and Hospitals in the Crosshairs

Southern California's emergency services are facing a growing problem: fake calls, known as swatting, are wasting precious time and resources. These hoax calls trick police into sending SWAT teams to non-existent crises, causing real fear and disruption. Students, like Sabrina Wong from Blair High School in Pasadena, have experienced the terror firsthand. In September 2025, a swatting call led to a lockdown at her school. Armed police swarmed the campus, and students were told to hide. Sabrina's parents were horrified, fearing the worst. It turned out to be a prank, but the impact was real. Swatting isn't just happening at schools. Hospitals, like Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, and even celebrities' homes, like Gordon Ramsay's in Bel Air, have been targeted. LAPD Deputy Chief David Kowalski calls it "digital terrorism. " These calls are hard to trace, often coming from encrypted phones, and many suspects are under 18.The frequency of these calls is alarming. In 2024, the LAPD received at least 59 false emergency reports. In the first half of 2025, there were 72 swatting-related incidents in LA County. Police are training dispatchers to spot swatting calls, but they still have to respond to each one. The consequences of swatting go beyond wasted resources. It makes people question their reactions in real emergencies. As Sabrina's mother, Lauren, worries, "If the actual one happens, are people going to react the way they should? " Despite the challenges, police sometimes catch the culprits. Pasadena police arrested a juvenile for the Blair High School swatting call. But with the ease of making these calls and the anonymity the internet provides, swatting remains a persistent issue.