SANFORD, Fla. — A 17-year-old from California, accused of swatting a mosque in Florida, has been apprehended and transported across the nation to face serious charges.
Alan Winston Filion, 17, was taken into custody on January 18 by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department based on a warrant from Seminole County, Florida, as per court documents. He was subsequently extradited to central Florida on Tuesday to confront charges, including three counts of false reporting and one count of unlawful use of a two-way communication device. Filion is being treated as an adult in the legal proceedings.
“Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma said in a statement, “Swatting is a perilous and senseless crime, which puts innocent lives in dangerous situations and drains valuable resources.” “The substantial law enforcement response in this swatting case underscores our unwavering dedication to community safety and holding offenders accountable, regardless of where they are located.”
Swatting refers to the act of making a prank call to emergency services with the intention of prompting the dispatch of numerous armed police officers to a specific location. Bomb threats have been a problem in the United States for decades, but swatting has gained popularity in recent years as individuals and groups target celebrities and politicians.