All articles tagged with #false report
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says his family was targeted by a false Child Protective Services swatting call in Traverse City, Michigan, prompting a temporary separation from his four-year-old twins; police and CPS later determined the anonymous report was unsubstantiated, and Buttigieg is considering civil or criminal charges.
Police say former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was the target of a false report; investigators found no credible threat against him, and he was publicly active, including speaking at a National Action Network convention in New York on April 10, 2026.
A civilian Navy employee in New Jersey was charged with falsely reporting an active shooter at a military base to trauma bond with colleagues, leading to a lockdown that was later lifted; she admitted to the hoax, which was motivated by workplace ostracism.
False reports of active shooter threats at Villanova University and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga caused panic and temporary lockdowns, but were later confirmed to be hoaxes with no injuries or threats.
A Colorado park ranger, Callum Heskett, was charged after falsely claiming he was stabbed in Staunton State Park, leading to a large-scale emergency response that was later revealed to be an elaborate hoax, with authorities suspecting he stabbed himself.
A Colorado Parks and Wildlife ranger, Callum Heskett, was arrested for staging a false attack in Staunton State Park, which led to a large-scale manhunt and emergency response before authorities discovered the hoax and charged him with multiple offenses.
Jefferson County investigators revealed that the stabbing of Colorado park ranger Callum Heskett was a fabricated incident, with evidence including body camera footage and digital searches indicating it was an elaborate hoax. Heskett has been arrested and faces multiple charges related to false reporting and evidence tampering.
The search for 3-year-old Nola Dinkins was revealed to be a false alarm after her mother, Darrian Randle, lied about her abduction, leading to a homicide investigation when a body was found in Cecil County. Randle and her boyfriend face multiple charges, including murder and child abuse, as authorities work to identify the remains and uncover the truth.
Katie Holmes has publicly refuted a false report claiming her ex-husband Tom Cruise set up a million-dollar trust fund for their daughter, Suri. Holmes criticized the Daily Mail for spreading misinformation, emphasizing her desire to protect her daughter from becoming a target. The actress received support from fans, though some urged her to consider broader perspectives. Holmes and Cruise divorced in 2012, reportedly to shield Suri from Scientology, and the mother-daughter duo currently reside in New York City.
Carlee Russell, the Alabama woman who faked her own kidnapping last summer, pleaded guilty to filing a false report and received two suspended six-month sentences, probation, community service, and restitution. She initially claimed to have seen a stranded toddler before disappearing, prompting a statewide search, but later confessed that the entire ordeal was a lie perpetrated solely by herself.
A 17-year-old from Lancaster, Alan Winston Filion, has been arrested in Florida for allegedly making a false report of a mass shooting at a mosque, a type of hoax known as "swatting." Investigators suspect he may be connected to similar incidents across the country. Filion is accused of creating multiple accounts on "swatting" websites, with various IP addresses linked to his home address. He faces charges including making a false report of violence, unlawful use of a communications device, and swatting.
Flyers head coach John Tortorella vehemently denied a report linking Kevin Hayes to prospect Cutter Gauthier's rift with the team, calling it "bulls–t" and expressing anger at the media for spreading false information. The report led to Hayes and Gauthier receiving death threats, with Hayes calling the reporter a "clown" and revealing the impact on his family following his brother's death. Gauthier also faced harassment, despite his impressive performance for Boston College and the United States at the IIHF World Junior Championship.
A 20-year-old Ohio man, Hesham A. Ayyad, has been arrested for allegedly lying to police about being the victim of an anti-Palestinian hate crime. Ayyad claimed that a driver had hurled slurs at him and hit him with a car, but police determined that he had lied about the incident and that his injuries came from a fight with his brother. Ayyad has been charged with making false alarms, falsification, obstructing official business, domestic violence, and assault. His brother, Khalil A. Ayyad, was also arrested and charged with domestic violence and assault. The incident is reminiscent of Jussie Smollett's hoax case.
Dorchester County School District 2 confirms that a hold placed on Summerville High School due to a report of a student with a possible weapon has been lifted. The student involved cooperated with the investigation, and the report was determined to be unfounded by the Summerville Police. The school emphasizes that student and staff safety is their top priority and appreciates the response of staff and students during the incident.
A North Carolina woman, Maggie Sweeney, has been arrested and charged with making a false report and resisting a public officer after allegedly sending anonymous messages claiming she had been attacked and killed. The charges are misdemeanors, and Sweeney has not entered a plea. Police initially treated the case as a missing person investigation but later discovered that Sweeney had used a third-party text app to send fraudulent texts. The incident caused unnecessary concern and wasted valuable police resources. Sweeney's first court appearance is scheduled for September 7.