Officers from several agencies rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital on Friday morning after what authorities later described as a hoax. The response was heavy, but no threat was found.
7News cameras showed Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputies and City of Miami police officers heading into the emergency room section of the Ryder Trauma Center during the 10 a.m. hour. Officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission also responded. Investigators said the call was a swatting incident, a false report meant to draw a large police presence to a location. Officers were seen putting on tactical gear and carrying long guns, and a 7SkyForce helicopter hovered overhead.
A hospital spokesperson said the area had been searched and nothing suspicious was found. The statement said no evacuation was necessary and normal operations should continue. No evacuations were carried out.
The episode is a reminder of how a single false call can tie up emergency resources at a busy trauma center. Jackson Memorial is one of the region’s largest hospitals, and patients and staff in the emergency area were affected by the activity outside.
