Elyria police have arrested a 33-year-old man accused of making a false emergency call that triggered a swatting response earlier on January 9.
Detectives identified the suspect, Jeremy Oster, during the course of their investigation. With assistance from the Lorain Police Department, officers located a vehicle connected to Oster and conducted a traffic stop on Leavitt Road. Oster was driving the vehicle at the time of the stop.
According to police, detectives interviewed Oster at the scene. During the interview, he admitted to making the false emergency call in an attempt to help a friend. Investigators believe the swatting call was intended to divert officers who were actively searching for a wanted individual when the incident occurred.
Oster was taken into custody and charged with swatting, a fourth-degree felony, and inducing panic, a fifth-degree felony. He was transported to the Lorain County Jail, where he is being held without bond pending his initial court appearance.
Elyria Police Captain Bill Lantz said the department takes these incidents seriously, noting that swatting wastes critical public safety resources and puts both residents and officers at risk.