Beverly Hills police are investigating after SWAT was requested on Thursday to The Peninsula Beverly Hills on a false hostage call, according to the department.
Police were called around 6 a.m. to the 9800 block of South Santa Monica Boulevard by someone who said he was being held hostage by several armed men inside the hotel, police said.
A large police presence responded, which included SWAT.
The area was finally cleared and it was discovered that the call was false.
Known as “SWATing” or “swatting,” the act of someone calling in a false report for a massive response is a known prank tactic. It is illegal, and if caught, the preparator could be charged with a felony.
In December, an innocent Wichita, Kansas, man was killed by police who responded to a swatting call. The victim’s family is suing the city and the police department.
