BATTLE CREEK, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Police in Battle Creek are reporting that a suspect has been arrested in connection to several fake 911 calls.
Police say that Marcell Terry may face up to 15 years in prison for these calls, the most recent of which occurred on February 15. The call concerned an armed robbery at a Dollar General that didn’t happen.
After tracing the source of the call, Terry was identified and connected to nine other fake reports. Other incidents Terry made up were related to fights, domestic violence, and even a false murder report.
The practice of making fake calls to police is often referred to as “swatting.”
Police say the danger of making fake calls of this nature lies in how officers are trained to respond to such incidents. In the case of a murder or armed robbery report, police will respond to the situation with the expectation that there will be a dangerous suspect.
Terry claimed that someone else had made the call on his phone, but later admitted to making the calls himself.
Terry was arraigned in Calhoun County District Court last Friday. Since he has three prior felonies and was on parole, he will be treated as a habitual offender.
A preliminary hearing is currently scheduled for March 13.
