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The New York State Police have arrested a Westchester County man in connection with a dangerous swatting hoax that led to an emergency response in Amawalk, NY.
On February 20, 2025, at approximately 11:12 AM, Troopers and Investigators from the SP Somers Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) responded to an alarming call reporting a violent assault in progress at a residence on Chalmers Boulevard. The caller, who claimed to be a woman, reported that her neighbor was assaulting his wife and that her head had been "cracked open." However, as investigators arrived on the scene, they quickly realized the call was a hoax.
Further investigation revealed that a similar false report had been made earlier that day regarding a complaint involving the caller’s son in Pawling, NY. In both cases, the details and language of the reports matched, prompting authorities to dig deeper into the situation. The son identified Mikel Kolaj, a former high school classmate, as the prime suspect, stating that Kolaj had previously threatened his brother’s girlfriend and had been involved in a similar swatting incident on New Year’s Day.
Further inquiry uncovered that Kolaj was already a suspect in an ongoing criminal investigation with the Eastchester Police Department for a previous swatting incident. Upon locating Kolaj, investigators were able to extract a full confession from him. Kolaj admitted to making several swatting calls in the past, including the two reports made in connection with this most recent case.
Kolaj was taken into custody, where he was charged with three counts of Falsely Reporting a Crime (Class A Misdemeanor). In addition to the charges in Westchester County, Kolaj also faces ongoing investigations in Eastchester for similar crimes.
The District Attorney’s Office issued an Order of Protection for the victim in this case. Kolaj was released on his own recognizance and is awaiting further legal proceedings.
Swatting, a criminal act where individuals make false reports of emergencies, is a dangerous crime that diverts critical emergency resources and puts both law enforcement officers and innocent individuals at risk. The New York State Police have emphasized the seriousness of such incidents and will continue to actively pursue and arrest those responsible for swatting hoaxes.
Authorities are urging anyone with additional information on swatting or other similar crimes to come forward and assist in the investigation.
