PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. — A 14-year-old boy has been arrested after police say he made a swatting call directed at Charles W. Flanagan High School in Pembroke Pines.
According to Pembroke Pines police, an anonymous caller contacted the Broward Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line at about 8:40 a.m. Tuesday and reported that two suspicious men were walking toward the high school.
“All of a sudden they say, ‘code red, this is not a drill’ and usually it would just be like, OK, it’s probably just a drill,” student Destiny Mata said. “We’re just going to turn off the light. And then they actually say it’s not a drill.”
Student Kimron Barcley said, “In the moment, my heart was racing beccause I didn’t know if it was real or not and I was kind of scared.”
The caller claimed that one of the men was carrying a gun, police said.
“Police officers flooded the school’s campus and actively searched the surrounding areas,” PPPD said in a news release Wednesday. “The police department’s response caused Flanagan High, Walter C. Young Middle School, and Lakeside Elementary to activate a Code Secure for precautionary measures.”
Police said no suspicious individuals were located during the search and the call was determined to be a hoax.
According to police, another call was later made to the Pembroke Pines City Pension Fund office, with the caller making threatening statements toward the pension office and Flanagan High.
“The Pembroke Pines Police Department’s Threat Assessment Team was immediately deployed to investigate both anonymous calls,” the news release stated.
Police said despite the teen’s attempts to disguise his voice, identity and location, they were able to identify him.
Police confirmed that the teen, identified as Andy Ismael Cruz, is a sophomore student at Flanagan High.
According to police, the teen was interviewed by detectives and admitted to placing the false calls.
He was arrested on charges of making a false report concerning the use of firearms in a violent manner, disruption of school function and misuse of the emergency system.
“Swatting calls or threats made toward our local schools are not a joke and are fully investigated by our department,” the news release stated. “We urge all parents to speak with their children about the severe consequences of making false reports to police, especially concerning the use of weapons on any of our local schools.”
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