5 days after first hoax call, Medina police expect more threats to local businesses, schools
Five days after an unknown caller started threatening various Medina County businesses, schools and even a hospital, Medina Police Chief Edward Kinney is anticipating more bomb threats on Tuesday.
The anonymous caller has not issued any threats as of 8:45 a.m. on Tuesday, but Kinney cautioned that could change as police continue investigating the calls.
"We're expecting more today; that seems to be the pattern," he said, referring to the new round of calls that were made every day since Friday.
Monday saw school districts including Medina High School and Highland High School scramble to protect their students after a fresh wave of threats. Highland canceled classes and sent their students to a nearby stadium.
Monday threats: Highland High School evacuates, police patrol Medina High School after bomb threats
Nothing suspicious was found at Highland High School after the facility was searched, according to News 5 Cleveland, an Akron Beacon Journal partner. Classes are back in session on Tuesday.
The latest threat was made Monday evening at a business. Kinney said a variety of places have received calls since Friday including a Hampton Inn, Fresh Food Deli, Medina Career Center, Medina Christian Academy, Cleveland Clinic Medina Hospital, Home Depot and Walmart.
'Spoofed' swatting calls
Kinney said these calls are textbook swatting incidents.
Swatting is the act of calling in fake tips or false threats that result in a large number of law enforcement officers being sent to one or more locations. Kinney said it wastes valuable resources.
The "spoofed" calls used in these threats, he explained, were likely made via computer-generator phone numbers with Iowa area codes.
"We don't believe the calls are actually coming from Iowa," Kinney said. The phone numbers are meant to be difficult to track and locate.
Although these swatting calls waste resources, he said that as police officers it is their job to treat each threat as credible. That means dedicating every resource necessary to keep people safe.
"We thoroughly vet and investigate each threat," Kinney said. "We need to make sure every student and every person is safe."
These threats remain under investigation by multiple law enforcement agencies including Hinckley Police, Medina Police, the Medina County Sheriff's Office, the FBI and the Secret Service.
To report any tips to Medina Police, anyone can call the non-emergency line at 330-725-7777.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Medina police continue search for unknown caller issuing bomb threats
