Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Leonard G. Pitts Jr. was awoken at his home early Sunday morning by Bowie Maryland Police who responded to a 911 call made against him.
What We Know:
- Police responded to a call that someone was being murdered in Pitts’ home. “The caller on the line stated that he had murdered his wife and that he was going to shoot the police when they arrived on the scene,” Bowie Police Chief John Nesky said.
- Pitts was forced to exit his home immediately so officers could scope out the alleged murder scene. He was ordered to his knees and handcuffed. “Never been arrested, and technically wasn’t arrested then, and never had handcuffs on before, either,” Pitts said. Pitts’ daughter, granddaughter, an wife were also ordered to exit the home.
- It took less than 30 minutes for officers to realize the incident was a hoax.
- Authorities are investigating the incident in which Nesky is reluctant to categorize as “swatting,” which involves calling in a fake emergency with the intent of luring a large number of authorities to an address.
Pitts writes a column for the Miami Herald that sometimes touches on controversial issues. He isn’t sure if that’s what caused someone to make the fake call.
