Ashton Kutcher ‘Home Invasion’ Call a Hoax
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Charles Eshelman/FilmMagic(LOS ANGELES) — The home invasion report that police received regarding Ashton Kutcher’s Hollywood Hills home Wednesday turned out to be a hoax, authorities tell ABC News.
The incident is instead being treated as another case of “swatting,” a fake distress call that triggers an immediate police response. The term is dervived from police SWAT teams that employ special weapons and tactics in emergency situations. The “swatting” calls are considered criminal actions.
In response to an ABC News request for comment, Kutcher’s rep referred to the actor’s Twitter feed, where he posted a picture from the set of Two and a Half Men, along with, “Safe an sound at two and a half men. Don’t miss tomorrow night 8:30.”
The incident began around 11 a.m., when a report of a break-in was made to 911 by someone using a teletype machine that is used by the hearing-impaired. LAPD Officer Cleon Joseph told ABC News affiliate KABC-TV the report prompted a significant police response because it stated shots were being fired.
When officers arrived on the scene, they discovered there was no break-in and no shots had been fired. The individuals that police officers found at the home were all employees of the residence.
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio