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The incident took place around 2:28 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 14, when the Darien Police dispatch received a call from a man purporting to be at a Birch Road residence, said Sgt. James Palmieri.
The man indicated he was waiting in the home for the arrival of another resident whom he would assault before setting the home on fire, Palmieri said.
Officers responded in an emergency fashion to the address and took up positions surrounding the home.
Contact was made with the residents of the home via telephone, who told officers there were no issues and were confused by the response.
A resident of the home exited and made contact with officers on the scene to confirm nothing was amiss, Palmieri said.
It was determined that the number of the original caller had a phone number from Minneapolis, Minnesota and that it was a voicemail box only.
It is believed that this was a “swatting” incident, during which a false claim is made in an effort to provoke a response by police, Palmieri said.
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