Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) detectives have charged a man in connection with multiple “swatting” incidents that prompted emergency responses. “Swatting” involves falsely reporting serious emergencies, such as shootings or hostage situations, to trigger an immediate law enforcement response, often involving the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team.
Over several weeks, the Virginia Beach Emergency Communications and Citizen Services (ECCS) received several 911 calls from the same phone number reporting violent incidents in progress. Each time, these calls led to an immediate priority response from first responders. All reported emergencies were found to be false.
Through investigation, detectives identified Jalen Chesson of Portsmouth as responsible for making these false reports. He has been charged with three counts of Falsely Summoning Law Enforcement.
Swatting incidents divert critical public safety resources and place both responders and the community at risk.
“The charges mentioned in this press release are accusations,” stated VBPD officials, “and the arrested individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”
