10/13/2026
The South Shore Regional Emergency Communications Center joins our public safety partners in raising awareness about swatting, which is the deliberate reporting of a false emergency to trigger a public safety response.
Sunday evening’s swatting incident in Cohasset underscores this danger. Although no hostages were found, and no injuries were reported, the incident temporarily closed Route 3A, drew emergency resources from several communities, and put innocent people and first responders at risk.
SSRECC dispatchers treated the reported threat with the seriousness it required, remaining calm, maintaining communication with the caller, and gathering critical information while coordinating the response. We are incredibly proud of their professionalism and efforts.
Swatting is far from a harmless prank. False reports can have life-altering consequences and divert critical resources from real emergencies. Our dispatchers take every emergency report seriously. Remember that behind each response are real people, dispatchers, police officers, firefighters, and EMS personnel working to protect our communities. As always, call 911 for a real emergency.
Please read the Cohasset Police Department’s release below for details.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 12, 2026
Cohasset Police Investigating Hoax Hostage Incident at Route 3A Jewelry Store
COHASSET, MA – The Cohasset Police Department is investigating an elaborate hoax hostage incident that prompted a significant police response and the temporary closure of Route 3A Sunday evening.
On Sunday, October 11, at approximately 6:30 p.m., the South Shore Regional Emergency Communications Center (SSRECC) received a call from a male who claimed he was barricaded inside a closed jewelry business on Route 3A, holding two hostages at gunpoint. The caller stated he was armed with both a pistol and a r***e and demanded money in exchange for the hostages' safe release.
Recognizing the seriousness of the reported situation, SSRECC dispatchers immediately initiated a Tac-Alert, a regional emergency response procedure that dispatches Cohasset Police officers and automatically summons on-duty officers from Hingham, Norwell, Scituate, and Hull. The alert also initiates immediate notifications and responses by police command staff.
The first responding officers established a perimeter around the business and directed incoming mutual aid officers to close Route 3A in both directions between the Scituate town line and Beechwood Street while officers assessed the situation.
Throughout the incident, SSRECC dispatchers-maintained communication with the caller, who claimed he could see officers arriving and accurately described their locations and movements. The caller also provided specific details about the interior of the jewelry business, including employee-only areas not generally visible to the public.
These details initially gave credibility to the caller's claims and required officers to treat the incident as a legitimate and potentially life-threatening hostage situation.
Meanwhile, police contacted the business owner and confirmed that she and her family were safe. The owner also contacted employees and confirmed their safety.
Officers subsequently entered the building and conducted a tactical sweep of the interior, finding no occupants or evidence of a hostage situation.
The incident was determined to be a hoax. No hostages were taken, and no injuries were reported.
Further investigation revealed that the caller had apparently gained unauthorized access to the business's video surveillance system, allowing him to remotely observe the police response in real time. This explained how the caller was able to provide dispatchers with detailed and seemingly credible information about responding officers and the business itself.
Cohasset Police detectives are actively investigating the incident, including the apparent unauthorized access to the business's surveillance system and the identification of the caller.
Police Chief William Quigley praised the SSRECC dispatchers for their professionalism and handling of the incident.
"Our dispatchers did an outstanding job managing what, at the time, appeared to be an extremely dangerous and rapidly developing hostage situation," said Chief Quigley. "They kept the caller on the phone for an extended period, remained calm and professional, and gathered a tremendous amount of information that will be valuable to our detectives as they work to identify the person responsible."
Chief Quigley also emphasized the importance of regional cooperation and the department's established emergency response procedures.
"This incident is a perfect example of why we train together and maintain strong mutual aid partnerships with our neighboring police departments. Within minutes, we had officers from several communities responding, establishing a perimeter, securing a major roadway, and preparing for what could have been a very serious situation. Our Tac-Alert system worked exactly as it was designed to work."
Chief Quigley noted that incidents of this nature, commonly referred to as swatting, are far from harmless pranks.
"These incidents put police officers and members of the public at risk, disrupt businesses, divert emergency resources, and create unnecessary danger. In this case, the caller went to extraordinary lengths to make the threat appear legitimate. We take this very seriously, and our detectives will work to identify the person responsible and pursue appropriate criminal charges."
The Cohasset Police Department thanks the dispatchers at SSRECC and our mutual aid partners from Hingham, Norwell, Scituate, and Hull for their rapid response and professionalism.
The investigation remains ongoing.
# # # South Shore Regional Emergency Communications Center, Police, Hull Police Department, Norwell Police Department, Police Department, Cohasset143
