WALLACE — The Shoshone County Sheriff's Office is investigating a swatting incident reported Wednesday evening. 

Swatting is the act of making a false report of a serious emergency to trigger a large law enforcement response, often involving a SWAT team, to an unsuspecting person's location. Typical false reports involve active shooters, hostage situations, bomb threats or other high-risk incidents. 

According to the sheriff's office, deputies and personnel from surrounding agencies responded Aug. 19 to a false report of a shooting at a Wallace residence. 

In a news release, the sheriff's office explained how investigators determined the report was a swatting incident. 

"Responding officers identified several discrepancies in the information provided, including an address that did not exist," the release read. "After a thorough investigation and searching of the area, officers determined the report was false. No shooting occurred, and there is no known threat to the community related to this incident." 

Swatting has become a growing problem over the past two decades. By 2008, the FBI was using the term as law enforcement agencies across the country dealt with increasing numbers of hoax emergency calls. Callers increasingly used internet-based technology to conceal their identities, and the practice expanded during the 2010s through online gaming and social media communities before spreading to schools, public venues and government offices. 

North Idaho has experienced several swatting incidents in recent years. In May 2026, a false threat sent St. Maries High School into lockdown, while a separate incident prompted the evacuation of Silver Lake Mall in Coeur d'Alene after an anonymous caller claimed to have a rifle and an explosive device. In both cases, authorities determined there was no credible threat and said the incidents appeared to be swatting. 

"Every report of this nature is taken seriously and treated as a legitimate emergency until officers can determine otherwise," the release read. "False reports put residents, first responders, and the public at risk while diverting emergency resources from legitimate calls for service." 

In 2025, Idaho lawmakers enacted legislation aimed at combating swatting and other false emergency reports. 

Under Idaho law, knowingly making a false report of violence or an emergency is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail, a $5,000 fine, or both. The offense becomes a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $25,000 fine if it causes more than $1,000 in damages or results in serious bodily injury. If a false report leads to a death, the penalty increases to a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000. 

Sheriff Shawn Wehr is taking the incident very seriously and said he would bring in larger agencies to help curb the issue if he feels the situation calls for it. 

"I’m concerned about copycats and an increasing number of incidents," Wehr said. "Some of these calls even come from outside of the United States. I can assure the public that each incident will be criminally investigated and prosecuted, including bringing in our state and federal partners to do so."

Wednesday's incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Shoshone County Sheriff's Office at (208) 556-1114.