Ripon police investigate fake weapons call

Police in Ripon are investigating a fake call that closed down several roads and schools Tuesday morning.

According to Lt. Steve Merchant, police received a call regarding an emergency in the 100 block of Maple Avenue.

“Due to the nature of the report, streets were blocked off and local schools were notified,” police said in a news release.

Merchant said the call involved a weapon. “We were taking a look at it, trying to avoid a disruption to our schools,” Merchant said. “But because of where it was reported it affected both the public schools and Ripon Christian.”

By 8 a.m., officers determined there was no threat and reopened streets and the schools. Merchant said detectives are investigating whether the incident was a “swatting call”, in which someone from another location makes it look like he or she is calling from a targeted home.

This story was originally published April 21, 2015 at 8:10 AM with the headline "Ripon police investigate fake weapons call."