Emergency prank draws sheriff's deputies to unsuspecting Brandon family
By Robbyn Mitchell, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Saturday, August 20, 2011
BRANDON — Debora Marshall wasn't sure what she was witnessing. She came home from work to find sheriff's cruisers blocking streets in her sleepy Timber Pond subdivision. Deputies with guns drawn and bulletproof vests surrounded her house.
"They had it blocked off at both ends. I thought a murderer was on the loose," she said.
So did the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
Authorities thought her son had killed her.
"My son was home and clueless," Marshall said. "I was at work, and all my neighbors thought I was dead."
In what appears to be the first incident of its kind in Hillsborough County, someone falsely and anonymously reported a murder and hostage situation that easily could have drawn a special weapons and tactics team — and deadly consequences.
Authorities are still investigating that Aug. 9 bogus call. It has since escalated into a federal case, said Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Debbie Carter.
The Sheriff's Office learned the report of the fake emergency came from out of state and was filtered through an online service for the deaf instead of coming through the 911 system.
Marshall, 51, said she believes her son is the victim of "swatting" — a prank hackers and phone phreakers have used for a decade to draw a SWAT team to the door of an enemy.
"I just don't understand how anyone could do this to someone," she said. "I just thank God because my son could have been killed."
• • •
Jonathan Marshall, 21, was home alone as deputies surrounded the house, pushed neighbors inside and blocked access to his subdivision.
He had decided to head over to a neighbor's house and stepped out his front door.
"Get on the ground!" deputies shouted as a stunned Jonathan Marshall saw dozens of guns and rifles pointed in his direction.
He got down. He was cuffed and questioned. Deputies searched for his supposed victims.
The person who reported the emergency said he had killed his mother, had an AK-47, a house full of bombs and a little sister locked in a closet.
Carter said Jonathan Marshall had gotten into an argument with another Microsoft Xbox Live player online.
"This may have been retaliation," she said.
Debora Marshall's neighbors looked at her like she was a ghost as she approached the police tape that afternoon.
Investigators eventually realized the call was a hoax — Jonathan Marshall didn't even have a sibling — and released him.
He was unharmed, but shook from fear the first time he left home afterward, his mother said.
Neighbors told her in the days afterward how afraid they were during the incident, and how scared they were she was gone.
"We're close-knit," Debora Marshall said. "It was really tense around here. Really tense. We just need to heal and they need to heal."
• • •
"Swatters" are out for entertainment, intimidation and revenge, according to the court documents from several convicted pranksters.
From 2002 to 2006, Dallas FBI agents tracked a group of suspected "swatters" who lived all over the country but frequented the same telephone party line.
The FBI said five suspects were responsible for 100 "swatting" calls in 60 cities, with some of the victims in Texas.
The methods of disguise included fake-phone number generating "spoof" cards, hacking phone systems to use someone else's number or using TTY phone services for the deaf.
Several of the now-convicted participants made the false calls to draw SWAT teams to the homes of people more than once. One victim in Victoria, Texas, was "swatted" 12 times.
Most incidents didn't end in violence, only inconvenience for the victim and first responders, according to an FBI fact sheet.
But there were close calls.
In 2007, a California victim heard rustling outside his home and went to check it out after picking up a knife from his kitchen. It was a SWAT team gathering outside. He wasn't injured.
Not every armed suspect a SWAT team is after is so lucky.
• • •
Authorities have tried a number of ways to combat a relatively new crime. The results vary.
In the case of the California victim, a teen from Seattle was sentenced to three years in prison for making the false call. The state formally charged the perpetrator with false imprisonment, assault with a deadly weapon, misuse of the Internet and filing a false emergency report.
Those state remedies haven't been tested in Florida.
When Dallas FBI agents took down the ring of swatters, they were all convicted in federal court of conspiracy to use access devices to modify telecommunications instruments and to access protected telecommunications computers. Some of the stiffest penalties were five years in prison and thousands of dollars in restitution.
Without federal communications laws, states have fewer prosecution options.
Making a false 911 call is a first- degree misdemeanor, which carries a jail sentence of up to one year and a fine of $1,000, according to Florida statutes.
But even then, if swatters use third-party services and don't call 911 directly, they aren't likely to be charged under that law, the Sheriff's Office's Carter said.
Carter said she hopes jail time served by other "swatters" will serve as a sufficient deterrent.
"There's really nothing you can do (to prevent false alarms) when it comes to the 911 system because we so rarely receive Internet calls," Carter said.
Debora Marshall said whoever made the call about her son did so to harm her family. She wants justice. And she wants peace.
"I'd never heard about anything like this," she said. "But my situation compared to others is pretty darn lucky."
Robbyn Mitchell can be reached at (813) 226-3373 or rmitchell@sptimes.com.
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Viewing 1 - 24 of 24 comments Oldest First Newest First Top Rated
moondoggie601 Aug 19, 2011 8:56 PM Yesterday I am sure god was really involved, mean while children were dying without his help to save them.
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Report Abuse 13 0 geoteacher Aug 19, 2011 9:24 PM Yesterday I bet all the people involved in this are WHITE upper economic class, born with a silver spoon in their mouths, children who have been spoiled rotten and have no regard for law enforcement. Great parenting skills out there in America. Children living at home when they are 21. Yeah, right!! Adults cannot stand on their own two feet and get a job and have to go to mommy and daddy to get a free roof and three squares. Of course, a little partying money also, and of course time to spend playing XBOX instead of looking for a job.
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Report Abuse 18 5 Whackamole Aug 20, 2011 7:52 AM About 16 hours ago geoteacher, have you checked the economy lately? It's none of your business if a 20-something lives at home with his parents. Back off. Reply
Report Abuse 1 10 Nightbiker Aug 20, 2011 9:33 AM About 14 hours ago kind of racist of you, isn't it? Reply
Report Abuse 0 5 dfpetrano Aug 20, 2011 10:50 AM About 13 hours ago "GEOTEACHER" is a racist poster a/k/a "Dapper Dave." Reply
Report Abuse 0 5 Gov_Tilt_Head Aug 19, 2011 11:23 PM Yesterday X-Box did it defense. - Priceless. Johnnyboy needs to NOT do the equivalent of the end zone dance when he wins online.
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Report Abuse 2 3 mike rowave1 Aug 19, 2011 11:40 PM Yesterday Wow 21 yr old sitting in the house playing xbox all day. I'll bet he has great social skills.
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Report Abuse 5 6 gdcares Aug 20, 2011 10:21 AM About 13 hours ago Maybe he has a job and it was his day off. How many of you have xboxes and play it every chance you get. Xbox would not be around if no one bought it nor played it. Maybe the 21 year old is there because his mother may need the help. It doesn't sound as if there was anyone else in the family residing there. So before all of you cast stones get the complete story. It could be his day off or he may work nights you never know. Reply
Report Abuse 0 5 cynic Aug 20, 2011 12:37 AM About 23 hours ago FBI will find these folks and it's off to a place where the only xbox games will be in the shower.
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Report Abuse 0 7 Darby Aug 20, 2011 7:29 AM About 16 hours ago I'd like to think so, but I doubt it. Reply
Report Abuse 0 0 dfpetrano Aug 20, 2011 10:15 AM About 13 hours ago Rest assures, the people who did this ARE THE FBI. Reply
Report Abuse 1 1 Wilsonite Aug 20, 2011 2:26 AM About 21 hours ago have you ever beat your son,...now might be the time.
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Report Abuse 5 1 TotallyPrevaricatingReports Aug 20, 2011 3:50 AM About 20 hours ago People are ALLOWED to argue. I hate xbox live but from people I know some say some on there are VERY VERY argumentative always yelling at the other players and calling them names and stirring stirring. People can be such idiots. I really don't like the cocept of xbox live AT ALL.
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Report Abuse 4 5 TotallyPrevaricatingReports Aug 20, 2011 3:52 AM About 20 hours ago Glad you and your son are OK. Good thing he wasn't wearing headphones or something when he stepped outside. Good job, deputies !! I can so see some room here for other things to be done such as a leo office faking a swat call in order to f with someone or get into a house without a warrant. BE SUSPICIOUS AMERICA. They hate that poopy old warrant stuff.
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Report Abuse 4 3 I C clearly Aug 20, 2011 6:16 AM About 17 hours ago I wonder what the real truth is here. what idiot would give people online any kind of information. Is someone really sofa king wetarted?
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Report Abuse 2 3 beakie Aug 20, 2011 7:20 AM About 16 hours ago The scary thing is that every city and town now has an armed gang willing to kick in your door and maybe shoot you, solely on the basis of an anonymous phone call. How about we start testing cops for steroids, maybe we can weed out the hair-trigger thugs.
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Report Abuse 1 7 Darby Aug 20, 2011 7:33 AM About 16 hours ago Does seem like overkill for an anonymous phone call. Reply
Report Abuse 1 4 cthahn Aug 20, 2011 7:58 AM About 16 hours ago Really sad how technology is being used. Hope they catch the punks and give them five or more years.
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Report Abuse 0 3 Mr Lizard Aug 20, 2011 9:25 AM About 14 hours ago Dude stick to Angry Birds, way less conflict
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Report Abuse 0 1 Paulyfall Aug 20, 2011 9:40 AM About 14 hours ago Hard to believe they can do all this based off anonymous phone call
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Report Abuse 0 0 dfpetrano Aug 20, 2011 10:14 AM About 13 hours ago Welcome to PATRIOT ACT America. Such is why so many of us believe 9/11 was an inside job, b/c w/o these post-9/11 measures, law enforcement would not be allowed to do these things to innocent people. Reply
Report Abuse 2 4 dfpetrano Aug 20, 2011 10:14 AM About 13 hours ago Welcome to PATRIOT ACT America. Such is why so many of us believe 9/11 was an inside job, b/c w/o these post-9/11 measures, law enforcement would not be allowed to do these things to innocent people. Reply
Report Abuse 0 3 dfpetrano Aug 20, 2011 9:52 AM About 14 hours ago I don't buy into this story at all, especially the part stating the police can do nothing about finding the identity of the the person responsible.
Now, the police will use the anonymous "swatter" excuse for busting into our homes.
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Report Abuse 1 6 AnniesRose Aug 20, 2011 9:58 AM About 14 hours ago Seems that too many people have too much time on their hands. I understand that 911 responders do not have time to question EVERY emergency call but one coming in from a TTY or the internet? Seems to me I would question why (especially with the internet one) there was no phone call.
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Report Abuse 0 1 gdcares Aug 20, 2011 10:14 AM About 13 hours ago Wow everyone starts to pick apart the victims instead of the ones who filed a False 911 call. Those are the people who need to pay for this not the victim. I hope this family will recover from this ordeal and that the police will find and arrest these ignoramouses. This is not a joke this is a serious offence. Had this 21yr old turned around he would have been shot dead, Had he had a cell phone and reached for it he wiold have been shot and this is standard procedure if it appears he is resisting or reaching for a weapon. This could have ended horribly for all involved. Thank God all at the scene had their witts about them and no one was shot or killed.
Hats off to the police and the victims for using their brains and common sence.
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Report Abuse 0 2 beakie Aug 20, 2011 2:48 PM About 9 hours ago It would not have ended horribly for any cop who shot one of those poor people. A few days paid vacation and it's right back to work. Reply
Report Abuse 1 1 dfpetrano Aug 20, 2011 10:25 AM About 13 hours ago This episode will occur again, but next time it will happen to people the police WANT to search, but cannot obtain a warrant.
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Report Abuse 2 4 Jeninfla1964@aol.com Aug 20, 2011 11:09 AM About 12 hours ago Did they bust the door down? I thought he walked outside on his own.
At any rate, I don't get why people are bashing the victim here. The guy might be employed, it might have been his day off. Maybe he is a student or home sick. Even if he is a mama mooching slacker, he is still the victim of a dangerous prank.
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Report Abuse 0 4 redpill Aug 20, 2011 2:28 PM About 9 hours ago The police seem all to willing to go to extreme force. I'll bet it took those boneheads way too long to admit it was a bogus call, but not before they had thoroughly checked the house. As dfpetrano has pointed out this will be a way for the police to get around getting a warrant. Only the dimwitted do not yet understand that the police are a gang of thugs who are not about protecting the citizenry. They are there to protect the establishment. They are extremely dangerous, and are virtually never held accountable for their crimes and excesses. We are living in a police state.
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Report Abuse 1 2 beakie Aug 20, 2011 2:46 PM About 9 hours ago The fact is this. They can't wait for any excuse to put on helmets and break out the M-16s. It beats writing tickets at some speed trap for half your shift. Ultimately, police departments across the country need their budgets cut by @ 25% to keep them from playing army man at the drop of a hat. Reply
Report Abuse 0 2 ewok Aug 20, 2011 3:13 PM About 8 hours ago The fact is some idiot got mad and made an erroneous call to the PD that almost cost lives. Reply
Report Abuse 1 1 beakie Aug 20, 2011 3:14 PM About 8 hours ago It wasn't erroneous, they meant to do it.
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Report Abuse 0 3 ewok Aug 20, 2011 3:14 PM About 8 hours ago The fact is some idiot got mad and made an erroneous call to the PD that almost cost lives. Teach your children people, don't just let them run the streets.
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Report Abuse 0 1 ewok Aug 20, 2011 3:33 PM About 8 hours ago @beakie erroneous means untrue. They made an untrue statement that almost cost lives.
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Report Abuse 0 0 Wilsonite Aug 20, 2011 7:21 PM About 4 hours ago suburbian bullspit
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Report Abuse 0 0 scoobette Aug 20, 2011 7:33 PM About 4 hours ago How did the "swatter" get the victim's address?
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Report Abuse 0 1
TotallyPrevaricatingReports Aug 20, 2011 11:33 PM Less than a minute ago Yes. HOW DID THAT HAPPEN ?? POPO???
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TotallyPrevaricatingReports Aug 20, 2011 11:36 PM Less than a minute ago I would like for Officer Robert Carey to explain why he is spending so much time following my family member around trying to set it up as though he is there because my family member called him. I know he has financial problems and his little boy toy Bill Dill, TPD was unsuccessful at HIS ploy set up by Christine and Colin Breen, Four Green Fields but this guy in car 79 and his partner nee of FHP Jason in car 579 are mentally ill. Robert Carey, I am going to have a hard time not laughing when you are being GRILLED on the witness stand, bypassing your protective Irish Republican Army friend and Colin's and Robert E.O'Neill's, Roberto Bautiste, TPD IAD. Scumbags.
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