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Police: Stoughton armed home invasion call was a hoax

STOUGHTON, Mass. — Police say they were called to a home in Stoughton Friday morning for a reported home invasion.

Just before 10:30 a.m., Stoughton Police received a call from a man who said he was barricaded in the bathroom of a home on Pearl Street. The man said five suspects entered the house with machine guns.

State Police responded with officers, K-9's and a helicopter. Eventually, it was learned the call was a hoax.

Neighbors and residents were alarmed with the reports of such an incident.

"I got a call from an unknown number, it was the police  saying 'are you home, is everyone alright,' I said 'I'm not home [but] my wife may be home,'” said Stephen Nordgren, a resident of the building.

"I definitely am still scared that this stuff happens," said Amy Carrol, a resident of the building.

Several residents in the area had to be evacuated while police cleared the house and the entire neighborhood was shut down while police set up a perimeter.

Stoughton Police, Canton Police, State Troopers and a regional SWAT team were on scene at Pearl Street, evacuating people from surrounding homes and businesses. They also shut down traffic from Pearl Street which leads to Canton.

"It was around 10-10:30 a.m. we got a banging [at the door] telling us we need to get out and I kept hearing helicopters and then I saw police with guns around my  house," said Vera Ferreria, a neighbor.

Stoughton Police Chief Donna McNamara told Boston 25 News the first call was disconnected.

When dispatch called back, a different person - a woman - answered telling them she was the resident of the apartment and wasn't home at the time.

Officials said someone stole one of the residents' identity and called police with a false report about a home invasion.

"This is unfortunately what we're dealing with, we're not the only community that has had swatting calls," said Chief McNamara. "This is a danger not only to the residents but the officers that responded - as you saw, it was quite the response."

Police are investigating the incident and still searching for the person who made the false report.

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Police discussing reported armed home invasion in Stoughton.

Posted by Boston 25 News on Friday, April 20, 2018