Hostage situation turns out to be a prank caller

A 45-minute call out for a hostage situation turned out to be a prank.

Superior police spent about 45 minutes responding a report of a hostage situation taking place at a home in the 1900 block of Banks Avenue.

Sgt. Chris Kirchoff said the department received a 911 call just after 6 p.m. about several people being held at gunpoint at the home. Police surrounded the home and had weapons at the ready before they made contact with someone inside and found there was no danger.

“The people in the house are the victims,” Kirchoff said after it was discovered that there was no problem there.

The incident tied up all available officers on duty at the time, according to Capt. Matt Markon.

The 911 call has been difficult to trace because it came on an internet phone line, Kirchoff said. The department will be using the Lake Superior Forensic Technology Task Force to find out where the call came from, according to Markon. He said the caller used Google Voice and had the know-how to make it appear the call originated from the home.

In addition to the fake hostage information, Markon said, the caller also mentioned a bomb.

If a suspect is identified, they could face both a misdemeanor count of unlawful use of a phone and a felony count of bomb scare. The misdemeanor carries a maximum penalty of 90 days jail and up to a $1,000 fine. The felony count has a maximum penalty of three years and six months imprisonment and a fine of up to $10,000.

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