A “swatting” call is to blame for the massive police response at Wendy’s on Lancaster Ave Sunday morning, according to the Reading Police Department.
Police responded the Wenday’s, located at 930 Lancaster Ave, around 10:15am Sunday, February 26, 2023, after receiving information that a suspect was hiding in a dumpster, possibly armed.
Police on-scene said the call was from a man via a mental health crisis hotline.
The 900 block of Lancaster Ave was closed for several hours as police attempted to contact the person in the dumpster. The Berks County Emergency Response Team (BCERT) eventually responded and was unable to find anyone inside.
On Monday, police say the investigation of the incident has revealed that the call originated from an out of state internet phone number and is believed to be swatting.
Swatting is a form of prank in which individuals contact local police departments to report a violent incident which did not occur to generate a police response.
