Series Of 'Swatting,' Hoax Bomb Threat Calls Lead To Arrest In SJ

SAN JOSE, CA — A San Jose man was arrested this week for allegedly calling in hoax bomb threats and making swatting calls that generated a large police response at his ex-girlfriend's house.

Efren Loredo, 49, is suspected of hoax calls and messages over the past two weeks that included one to an out-of-state police department claiming that a San Jose resident was going to kill his family.

Officers responded to the house, where the occupants were fine and there was no threat, police said.

A prior call to the same address was made on Sept. 4, when police responded to a report that a resident was going to shoot himself.

Police say Loredo is the ex-boyfriend of a woman living at the address, and that the suspect had allegedly made threats against her and her husband in the past. In addition, Loredo had an active felony warrant for his arrest.

During the same period, San Jose police also responded to bomb threats at Yerba Buena High School and the San Jose Unified School District. The suspect claimed he was the resident of that same address and planned to blow up the campuses.

Loredo allegedly also made threats and and swatting calls in Redwood City, California and Kansas City, Missouri.

A swatting call is when a hoax call is draws a large police response.

On Monday, police obtained a search warrant for Loredo's home, where electronic evidence was allegedly found.

The suspect was booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on suspicion of criminal threats, stalking, and violation of a protective order.

Anyone with any information about the investigation is asked to contact Detective Martinez #4533 of the San Jose Police Department Assaults Unit at 4533@sanjoseca.gov or 408-277-4161.

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