SWATTING: Part of US 151 in Dodge County closed after man calls to report shooting, hostage situation

DODGE COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Authorities say a "SWATTING" incident led to US 151 being closed from Highway G to County Highway S for roughly an hour around 4:15 p.m. on Monday.

The Dodge County Sheriff's Office received a phone call from a man indicating he had shot another man and taken hostages at a residence in the area of US 151 and Forest Road between the cities of Beaver Dam and Columbus.

The SWAT Team was called to the scene and cleared the residence. According to the sheriff's office, it became quickly evident that this was most likely a SWATTING event.

"These types of incidents are not only illegal, but they are dangerous and will not be tolerated," said Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt.

The Sheriff's Office and the Department of Justice are now investigating.

The Sheriff's Office also wants to remind the public that SWATTING incidents create a danger because resources are pulled away from other areas of the county and limits the response to other emergencies.

"In fact, shortly after this incident was resolved, the sheriff’s office responded to Fox Lake for a report of subjects who had fallen through the ice on the lake.  Had our deputies still been tied up on the SWATTING call, it is quite possible that our deputies would not have been able to respond as quickly to that incident and lives could have been put further in jeopardy," Sheriff Schmidt said. 

Stay with CBS 58 News for more information on this developing story.