Ashton Kutcher “swatting” prank costs Los Angeles $10K
A bogus hostage situation reported at the home of “That 70s Show” star Ashton Kutcher has cost Los Angeles $10,000 (£6,000) in wasted police manpower and resources.
According to law enforcement sources, the emergency teletext — which is intended for deaf people as an alternative to a 911 call — resulted in massive police response to Ashton Kutcher’s mansion in Arrowhead Drive last Wednesday. The distress call was said to be from a woman who claimed she was the victim of a violent home invasion robbery, but the case has now been treated as an elaborate prank known as “swatting.”
The swatting prank is said to have resulted in a huge number of police deployed to the home of Ashton Kutcher, involving dozens of heavily-armed police officers from several divisions, including a Los Angeles Police Department helicopter.
The alleged victim called 911 and said that she had locked herself inside one of the bachelor pad’s bathrooms, after three gunshots were fired and that “people were either injured or dead.”
Three men have been detained when the Los Angeles Police Department arrived on the scene of the alleged hostage, but the suspects have already been cleared after it was discovered that they were workers who were renovating the property under the authorization of Ashton Kutcher.
Reports said that there was no sign of the supposed victim and the authorities are “aggressively” looking for a culprit after ruling it as a case of “swatting,” where someone falsely reports a serious crime.
A Los Angeles Police Department spokesman said in a statement, “Right now, I believe it is all clear and checked. Public safety is no longer an issue there.”
Ashton Kutcher — who is currently dating actress Mila Kunis — was not at home at the time of the incident, but rushed home immediately.
The Hollywood comedian purchased the $3.6 million mansion following his split from Demi Moore back in March.