An apparent swatting incident before sunrise today has Jackson Township police involved in an intensive search for the suspect who originated the call.

Jackson Township Police (Jackson PD Facebook page)
Jackson Township Police (Jackson PD Facebook page)
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Information on the Jackson Police Facebook page describes a caller at about 4:41 AM claiming to be in a house on Alabama Court, declaring that he had stabbed his girlfriend, had a firearm, was considering suicide and planned to shoot police officers, authorities said.

A team of patrol officers led by Sergeant Frank Mendez surrounded the house but, detecting a lack of noise or activity, held off on summoning the Ocean County Regional S.W.A.T team and a negotiator.

They reached a woman in the house, who emerged to tell them that the individual believed to have placed the call was asleep, and that nothing of the kind had taken place, officials said. A subsequent conversation with the supposed caller confirmed that it was a hoax.

Lieutenant Steven Laskiewicz, the department spokesman, acknowledged that technological ploys such as computerized call rerouting increase the difficulty of tracing these kinds of calls.

Regardless, the investigation continues, and charges will be filed when and if a suspect is arrested. Information can be given confidentially to Jackson Police at 732-928-1111.

Assisting Sergeant Mendez were Officers Anthony Riso, Christopher Schinder, Edward Travisano, Michael Goelz and Tristan Bennett.

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