Bomb threat shuts down downtown Fort Myers, turns out to be swatting call

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK)—Downtown Fort Myers reopened Monday night after a bomb threat prompted evacuations and road closures Sunday afternoon.

Police now say the threat was actually a swatting call. A business received the call, but police would not confirm which business.

Because of the threat, businesses and people living downtown were evacuated as officers searched the area.

Anthony Mateo lives downtown.

"I hear a bunch of knocking, people yelling from the hallway, and then looked at my peephole and cops were right there," Mateo said. "Opened the door, and they said to evacuate. There's a bomb threat in the area."

Officers directed people to go near the Luminary Hotel while the scene was cleared. Olivia Powell works downtown.

"The officers just came in and said we had to leave," Powell said.

After searching the area, police said the call was a swatting incident—a false emergency report designed to trigger a large law enforcement response. But police have to treat it as if it is real.

Richard Kolko, a retired FBI special agent, said these calls are dangerous.

"These are very dangerous, these swatting calls," Kolko said. "It takes police and fire departments off the streets are not able to respond to other actual calls that are realistic."

Kolko said if you know something, say something.

"If somebody has any information, there's nothing better than law enforcement getting that phone call, helping to find the person that did this," Kolko said. "They may face some serious charges, but hopefully it could put a stop to future calls."

This is an active investigation. Fort Myers Police Department is actively working to find where the call came from.