Despite Reports, No 'Swatting' In Rosemount Wednesday: Police Chief

ROSEMOUNT, MN — Rosemount Police Chief Mikael Dahlstrom said that despite reports, there was no "swatting" incident that happened in the city on Wednesday.

Swatting "involves making a prank call to law enforcement services in an attempt to bring a large law enforcement response to a particular address," the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension explains.

More than a dozen schools in Minnesota were "swatted" on Wednesday. Fake calls reporting active shooter events, bomb threats, or mass casualties sent local law enforcement into action, only to find nothing at the scene.

Schools in states across the U.S. have experienced similar mass swatting attempts, and perpetrators can face fines or jail time, as well as discipline from the school if they are a student.

"As you can imagine, these types of irresponsible and deviant pranks create a lot of anxiety and stress for both first responders and members of our community," Dahlstrom said in a statement Thursday.

"We take these calls and issues seriously and will seek prosecution to the full extent of the law if and when they occur."

Below are Minnesota schools that were swatted on Wednesday:

Austin — Austin Public Schools

Austin Public Schools placed all buildings under lockdown on Wednesday after police received a phone call reporting an active shooter at the Austin High School. However, authorities later determined there was no threat.

Cloquet Police Department

The Carlton County Sheriff's Dispatch Center said it received a call about an active shooter situation at Cloquet High School. Police responded to the school, and school staff placed the school on lockdown.

However, at the scene, officers found the report was a hoax.

Mankato — West High School

According to Mankato police, around 10:30 a.m., authorities responded to a report of an active shooter at West High School. However, when police searched the entire school, they found there was no threat, and it's now believed the call was a hoax.

Minneapolis — U of MN

University of Minnesota — A bomb threat was reported at Coffman Memorial Union, and police responded, but was reopened without incident.

Rochester — Lourdes High School and Mayo High School

A report of an active shooter at Lourdes High School on Wednesday in Rochester was determined to be false, according to the Olmsted County Sheriff.

Additionally, at about the same time, a student made false report of a person with a gun at the Mayo High School, according to Rochester Public School officials.

St. Cloud — Apollo High School

According to school officials, St. Cloud Public School District CPD received a false report report at Apollo High School.

St. Paul — Johnson Senior High School

A false report of an active shooting at St. Paul's Johnson Senior High School was reported Wednesday, district officials said.

The Star Tribune reported that Washburn High School in Minneapolis, plus schools in Rosemount, New Ulm, Fairmont, Alexandria, Fergus Falls, Brainerd, Grand Rapids, International Falls, Bemidji were also targeted with false reports.

However, the Star Tribune later issued a correction, stating that there was no swatting in Rosemount and that it received incorrect information from the BCA.