On 1/9/19 at 2:31 PM The Naugatuck PD received a phone call from a anonymous caller in which the caller advised that a “white male wearing a
tank top is holding a gun in the air threatening that he will shoot the
next person that comes onto his property”. The caller stated that the
incident occurred at a residence on Sunburst Rd. and described the
subject as having facial tattoos. The caller also described the
residence but was unable to provide a residence address and no further
information was provided by the caller.
Naugatuck Officers and
detectives responded to the area and immediately conducted a thorough
canvass. While this incident was being investigated, Naugatuck Police
simultaneously notified the Naugatuck Board of Education of our presence
in the area and recommended that Maple Hill elementary School conduct a
precautionary lockdown until the situation could be further
investigated and until a determination could be made that there was no
threat to the facility. The Naugatuck PD stationed an officer at the
school to restrict movement onto the school property at about 2:45 PM.
Naugatuck officers and detectives spoke with numerous residents in the
area of Sunburst Rd. during the canvass and none reported seeing or
hearing anything that matched the events described by the caller. At
approximately 3:15 PM, based on an extensive canvass of the area a
determination was made that there was no immediate threat to the public
including Maple Hill School students and staff. Based on this
information NPD cleared Maple Hill School to remove the precautionary
lockdown status.
Although a determination was made that no
immediate threat existed, the investigation into the incident including
information regarding the caller remains open. It should be further
noted that investigation into the origin of the call revealed that the
number is registered as “unknown” from Washington State, indicating the
possibility of the call being connected to a “swatting” incident.
The Naugatuck PD requests anyone that might have information regarding
this incident contact the Naugatuck PD at 203-729-5221 or the NPD
Confidential Tip Line at 203-720-1010.