PIERRE, (KCCR) — An alleged swatting incident is believed to be behind a bomb threat called into the Pierre Walmart Sunday night. Pierre Police Captain Kyle Cummings says Central South Dakota Communications received a call around 7:15 Sunday night claiming an explosive device was placed at Pierre’s Walmart. The dispatcher taking the call noted the information being provided by the call was consistent with previous incidents of so-called “swatting”. Swatting is a hoax practice where in a caller to police claims a serious incident like a bomb or hostage situation is taking place, thus prompting a serious law enforcement response such as use of a special response or SWAT team. After meeting with Pierre Police, Walmart management elected to evacuate the store as a precaution. Law enforcement conducted a thorough search of the store and found no suspicious items. The store was returned to management just before 10 pm. Cummings says an investigation into the fake call is ongoing. Assisting Pierre Police were the Hughes County Sheriff, South Dakota Highway Patrol and F-B-I.
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