GAYLORD — A swatting incident occurred at Munson Otsego Memorial Hospital early Wednesday morning.
Gaylord Police Chief Frank Claeys said his department received a call at 6:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 17 claiming there was an armed suspect in the building.
“The information didn’t appear to be very credible, but we treated it as if it was. We cleared the building and made sure there was no armed individual,” Claeys said.
Police reviewed the hospital’s security cameras to make sure it was all clear, according to Claeys.
“We got the hospital up and running as quickly as possible,” he added.
Swatting entails a hoax call to law enforcement to prompt an armed response. The incidents can put victims in harm’s way when law enforcement arrive with the understanding that officers are responding to a horrific crime, rather than a prank.
After receiving a call of a potential threat, hospital president Rob Richardson said “we immediately initiated a lockdown and worked closely with law enforcement to ensure the safety of everyone in the facility.”
“The situation occurred just before shift change, so some staff members remained in the parking lot during the lockdown. We did not evacuate; instead, we sheltered in place as a precaution,” said Richardson. “All of our patients remained safe throughout the incident, thanks to the incredible teamwork and dedication of our staff. Outpatient services — including surgery, lab and radiology — had not yet opened when the lockdown began, which helped minimize disruption. We were able to resume normal operations with only a slight delay. The Emergency Department remained open during this time with security present at all public entrances.”
As an added precaution, additional security measures are now in place, said Richardson.
Claeys said the hospital was able to airlift a patient during the incident. Gaylord Police were assisted by the Otsego County Sheriff’s Department and the Michigan State Police.
Claeys said there are no suspects at this time and the investigation continues.
— Contact Paul Welitzkin at pwelitzkin@gaylordheraldtimes.com
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Swatting incident slightly delays operations at Gaylord hospital on Wednesday
Reporting by Paul Welitzkin, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
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