Manitoba teen facing additional charges related to 'swatting' calls in U.S.: RCMP
An 18-year-old from Manitoba previously arrested in connection with ‘swatting’ incidents in the United States was arrested again in connection with additional incidents.
Sean Murdock from Fisher River was arrested on Wednesday and is facing an additional six charges of public mischief. The charges have not been proven in court.
Murdock was previously arrested in September 2021 in connection with two swatting incidents in Tennessee and two in North Carolina. ‘Swatting’ sees a person making a phone call falsely describing a life-threatening situation to provoke an armed police response.
In the September incidents, calls were made saying a man was inside a school with a firearm and was going to start shooting. The schools were placed on lockdown and a large number of police officers, including SWAT officers, attended. The calls were found to be false.
RCMP examined electronic devices seized from Murdock’s home during his initial arrest and determined he allegedly made six additional swatting calls to various police departments in the United States.
The police departments were located in Michigan, Wisconsin, Oregon, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Illinois.
“These calls ranged from threats made in relation to an active shooter to bomb threats involving large facilities,” RCMP said in a statement. “As a result of these phone calls, numerous law enforcement personnel were dispatched to these locations which were all determined to be false.”
Murdock is scheduled to appear in court on March 8 in Peguis First Nation, Manitoba.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.