Upper Freehold hostage report a hoax

UPPER FREEHOLD (AP) — Police responding to a report of a hostage in Upper Freehold Township discovered it was a hoax.

A State Police SWAT team and other officers deployed on Ridgeview Way on Wednesday night. After speaking with the homeowner, they discovered there was no threat.

Officials believe it was the latest case of "swatting," in which law enforcement is forced to respond to a hoax.

State Police spokesman Sgt. Jeff Flynn tells NJ.com officials are trying to determine who made the 911 call.

A false report of an armed intruder led police to lockdown a school in Holmdel earlier this week and police responded to a hostage situation at a video game store in Clifton last Saturday that turned out to be a hoax.

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