A law enforcement officer in Prattville, Alabama has been arrested and charged by the Prattville Police Department for filing multiple false reports of an incident.
Prattville Police Chief Mark Thompson has disclosed that Christopher Eugene Sanspree Jr., a 23-year-old resident of Montgomery, is facing charges for allegedly placing at least six calls to the Prattville police within a span of three months.
Sanspree, an employee of the Montgomery Police Department, was on duty when the incidents occurred, according to Thompson. He was arrested in Montgomery and then taken to Autauga County on February 7th. However, he was subsequently released on bond.
WSFA 12 News contacted the Montgomery Police Department to inquire about any potential disciplinary actions and Sanspree’s current employment status. Capt. Raymond Carson, from MPD’s Office of Professional Standards, verified that Sanspree has been with the department for 28 months, was on patrol duty during the time of his arrest, and is currently on “administrative assignment.”
Lieutenant Thompson reported that the false calls, commonly known as “swatting,” began on October 30th and persisted until late December. He mentioned that his department has evidence linking Sanspree to the false calls within their jurisdiction. However, the investigation is not limited to Alabama, as they are collaborating with law enforcement agencies in Georgia, Wyoming, and Massachusetts to determine if swatting incidents in those areas are linked to the same perpetrator.
Thompson stated that it was still unclear why Sanspree had made the swatting calls after his arrest. However, the chief mentioned that Sanspree had made a statement saying that he thought it was funny.
Thompson was straightforward in expressing his reaction to an on-duty officer allegedly committing these crimes and finding it amusing. “To be completely honest with you, it really angered me,” he said.
“We already have enough challenges in dealing with the reputation of police officers, and now we have someone engaging in such behavior while on duty,” Thompson expressed. “It’s highly frustrating for me and other law enforcement chiefs who are working hard to maintain the integrity of our profession. Actions like these stunt the image of law enforcement as an honorable career.”
Thompson emphasized the gravity with which his department handles these incidents, highlighting that “there have been cases where these false calls turned out to be ambushes. We always approach these types of calls with caution, as the police officer involved would be well aware of the potential risks involved.”
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