RICE LAKE, Wis. (NWN) – A ‘swatting’ call led to the lockdown and massive police response at Rice Lake’s Marshfield Medical Center on Thursday.
Law enforcement agencies converged on the hospital after staff at the emergency department reported getting a threatening call just after 2 p.m. on Thursday.
Rice Lake Police Chief Steve Roux said a caller alleged two men were coming to shoot up the hospital in 20 minutes. The caller disguised their voice and hung up after becoming upset with staff. The hospital was placed on lockdown for two hours while police investigated and determined it was one of several “swatting” calls around the state.
Swatting is when a false threat is called in to authorities, prompting a massive police response. News media reported a swatting call closed down the Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison yesterday.
Rice Lake’s hospital and clinic returned to normal operations Thursday afternoon.