An Indiana state senator was targeted by a swatting incident Sunday night, according to the Vigo County Sheriff’s Office. “On Sunday November 16th around 5pm an email was sent to the Terre Haute Police Department advising harm had been done to persons inside a home, located in southeastern Vigo County. This information was immediately relayed to the Sheriffs Office, at which point deputies responded to the home, which was the home of Senator Greg Goode,” the Vigo County Sheriff’s Office stated.
“Attempts were initially unsuccessful to raise anyone at the residence, but ultimately contact was made with persons inside the home. All persons were secure, safe, and unharmed. Investigation showed that this was a prank or false email (also known as ‘swatting’),” the statement continued. “This evening, my family and I were victims of a swatting incident during which a fake communication was sent to local law enforcement officials,” Goode said in a statement.
Goode, a Republican, wrote on social media that the responding deputies were “under the impression of a domestic violence emergency.” He thanked the deputies for acting professionally. “While this entire incident is unfortunate and reflective of the volatile nature of our current political environment, I give thanks to God that my family and I are ok,” Goode wrote.
The Vigo County Sheriff’s Office said an email was sent to the Terre Haute Police Department indicating a domestic violence emergency happened at the senator’s home — but it was all false. “A false or prank call of this nature will never be acceptable,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. “Not only do calls like this waste and reduce resources of deputies serving and protecting other parts of our county, they have a negative impact on the victim and their families as well. Our office along with federal authorities will investigate this incident with every intention of discovering who is responsible.”
The sheriff’s office said further details will not be released as the investigation is ongoing.
