Police swamped with false reports

Local police say a surge of false information being shared on social media is disrupting their efforts to fight real crime.

“What we are experiencing is a large amount of bad information going out on social media about incidents that are being blown out of proportion,” Kalispell Police Chief Roger Nassett said Thursday. “There have been no violent crimes today.”

Officers spent the day trying to diffuse false rumors of a shooting.

“The biggest crime we have had today has been false reports,” Nassett said.

Earlier today, Nassett said police were prepared for a potentially serious incident after getting a report that three males were threatening people with knives at the Kalispell Center Mall.

The males did have knives but were not threatening anyone, and they were not charged with a serious crime, according to Nassett.

Kalispell resident Madison Gonter-Crevier said she was at the mall with her sister and two children when the incident occurred.

“It was really scary. The cops came running past with a huge gun,” she said in a message. “We were told to stay down by the people following the cops.”

Gonter-Crevier said she witnessed one male being put into a police car and another being held on the ground near Bath & Body Works as she was leaving the mall.

“I heard the cop yelling at one of the guys who was on the ground. The other guy was already handcuffed being walked out,” she said.

Although the situation was intense, Gonter-Crevier said it was handled well by police.

“The cops contained it really well and really fast it seems,” she said.

This “blown out of proportion” crime report was one of several the police received.

Nassett said throughout the day, local law enforcement was inundated with unsubstantiated reports of crime.

“There is quite a bit of hysteria right now,” he said.

Law enforcement officers believe the rumors may be fueled by the recent threats that caused school closures across the valley, as well as the recent school shooting in Spokane, Washington.

The chief is asking people not to share unsubstantiated information via social media or otherwise.

“Don’t forward information until you know it’s accurate. If we do have a major incident, we will report it,” Nassett said.

The Kalispell Police Department added that the emergency vehicles parked at the Kalispell Center Mall parking lot were there for a trauma symposium being held at the Red Lion Hotel.

“There is no present danger at the mall and there was no shooting,” the Kalispell Police Department shared in a press release.