The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

ERICK ERICKSON GETS SWATTED

Posted on | May 27, 2012 | 85 Comments

FROM AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION
The news reached me by phone tonight, just as I was trying to get to sleep: Someone has targeted Red State’s Erick Erickson with the same dangerous hoax that had previously been used against Patterico.

UPDATE: Erickson writes at Red State:

Last week we spent a lot of time writing about Brett Kimberlin and the incident involving blogger Patterico where someone spoofed his phone number and told 911 he had shot his wife.
Tonight, my family was sitting around the kitchen table eating dinner when sheriffs deputies pulled up in the driveway.
Someone called 911 from my address claiming there had been an accidental shooting.
It wasn’t nearly the trauma that Patterico suffered, but I guess the Erickson household is on somebody’s radar.
Luckily it was two sheriffs deputies who knew me and I had already, last week, advised the Sheriff’s Department to be on the look out for something like this.

It’s no secret that I sharply criticized Erickson during the 2012 presidential primary campaign, but last week he mentioned me in writing about the Kimberlin case, which was a gracious gesture. This situation is more important than individual personalities.

UPDATE II: Instapundit: “Really, if the goal is to keep people from writing about Brett Kimberlin, this doesn’t seem like the way to do it.”

Indeed, given that Erickson is a CNN contributor, this incident certainly should provide the mainstream media a solid reason to stop ignoring the Kimberlin case.

UPDATE III: Patterico: “Anyone else think CNN is going to talk about SWATting now?”

UPDATE IV: Now the top thread at Memeorandum.

Category: Crime, Red State, Terrorism, The Kimberlin Files

Comments

85 Responses to “ERICK ERICKSON GETS SWATTED”

  1. M. Thompson
    May 27th, 2012 @ 10:46 pm

    No one deserves to have the police called to their home  because of some spurious crank.

  2. RosalindJ
    May 27th, 2012 @ 10:53 pm

    No one deserves to have police on high alert come to their home for a fraudulent reason.

    It’s becoming a bit of a trend of distraction with deadly potential, yes? I think anyone who has a higher than usual profile should be notifying their LEOs.

  3. McGehee
    May 27th, 2012 @ 10:56 pm

    I think a general heads-up to law enforcement about SWAT -ing in general is a good idea. My own badge-wearing friends are either already aware of it, or will be very soon.

  4. Dianna Deeley
    May 27th, 2012 @ 11:05 pm

    I’m really glad the Ericksons are safe. And at this point, the only place a hatchet belongs is buried. 

  5. JeffS
    May 27th, 2012 @ 11:09 pm

    Good to hear no one was hurt.   Erik was smart, contacting the police ahead of this.

  6. Largebill
    May 27th, 2012 @ 11:12 pm

    Just talked to friend in law enforcement, and they were briefed about this sort of crime last week. Problem is they can’t be given specific guidance as far as changing standard procedure. If the nature of a call is such that you would normally approach with heightened tactical readiness then they have to stick to SOP. Cops die when procedures aren’t followed. Techniques are designed based on past failures/losses. Scary stuff. Law enforcement needs to get better at tracking and punishment needs to get stiffer for some of these computer crimes.
    Swatting = death penalty
    Computer virus = public beating & 2nd offense is death penalty
    Hacking = Loss of favorite masturbation hand
    These scum are cowards and they need to be more scared of the penalty than they are currently.

  7. Adobe_Walls
    May 27th, 2012 @ 11:15 pm

    Very time consuming.

  8. Dianna Deeley
    May 27th, 2012 @ 11:16 pm

     But worth it, really. Think about it.

  9. McGehee
    May 27th, 2012 @ 11:22 pm

    If your SWAT-ing death penalty is to be administered by the person SWAT-ed, I’m with you.

  10. W. J. J. Hoge
    May 27th, 2012 @ 11:27 pm

    Yes, we bloggers disagree with one another (as you and Erick Erickson have in the past), but those of us who are serious about preserving the freedom to present our ideas should all band together against a threat such as Brett Kimberlin and his thuggish supporters. Mr. Kimberlin had his 15 minutes 24 hours of fame last Friday, but we should keep the heat on until he’s either completely neutralized or, better yet, serving out the rest of his Speedway Bomber sentence.

    Keep up the good work!

  11. Adobe_Walls
    May 27th, 2012 @ 11:52 pm

    Oh I agree finding the correct heads to bury one’s hatchets in is worth it. Oh…..wait I suspect we’re not on the same page here.

  12. Dr_Tesla
    May 27th, 2012 @ 11:56 pm

    I have a hard time believing Erickson on this.  The man strung people along for like 2 days with his claim he knew something that proved Nikki Haley’s accuser was lying and then he didn’t have anything.   I don’t trust this guy is telling the truth about being swatted,  dude loves the limelight and forcing himself into the story.    He tells some cops before it happens and then it does, just a little too coincidental for me. 

  13. Adobe_Walls
    May 27th, 2012 @ 11:57 pm

    The problem is that they have even less fear (for good reason) of getting caught.

    I’d add to your list Identity theft=Impalement.

  14. Dr_Tesla
    May 27th, 2012 @ 11:59 pm

    I won’t be suprised if we learn all these bloggers have been lying about being swatted to force the original story out into the national media.   An “ends justify the means” kind of scenario.  

  15. Dianna Deeley
    May 28th, 2012 @ 12:02 am

     Maybe. Maybe not.

  16. Dr_Tesla
    May 28th, 2012 @ 12:02 am

    I’d like to hear from the police station in Macon GA that this really happened, and from somebody who is not one of ERickson’s two cop friends. 

  17. #BrettKimberlin D+2: All In The Kimberlin Family [UPDATE: Another SWATting] « The Camp Of The Saints
    May 28th, 2012 @ 12:09 am

    […] Stacy McCain commented: It’s no secret that I sharply criticized Erickson during the 2012 presidential primary campaign, […]

  18. Shawny
    May 28th, 2012 @ 12:15 am

    Hell, they didn’t make the call from his house or his number.  And the caller number and voice who did make it should be recorded in the system to be traced which also would have shown law enforcement dispatch that the number and address given didn’t match.  Even a disposable cell phone is going to ping that number to a tower somewhere.  So far, as disgusting and dangerous as it is, it is local police and hoax calls.  What happens if drugs or bomb making materials are planted while you’re at work and asshole calls the feds?   Are you guys that easy to find or is there a possibility that he has some State Department database accesses a convicted felon shouldn’t have?  Just sayin’.  Please take care and don’t assume he won’t escalate his terrorism, especially if all the visability causes  him to lose his support base and donations.  Anyone know who his parole/probation officer is?

  19. Dianna Deeley
    May 28th, 2012 @ 12:17 am

     You claim to be a reporter. Make the call. Unless, of course, actually establishing that the SWATting happened would be too much for your worldview to bear.

  20. Garym
    May 28th, 2012 @ 12:23 am

    Don’t waste your time Dianna. This clown will make every thread about himself.

  21. Shawny
    May 28th, 2012 @ 12:28 am

    P.S. It’s unlikely he’s making the calls himself, at least not without disguising his voice.  It would be way too easy to match voice records with news interviews and court recordings.  But if you have a sample, it could be given to your local police to check for a match anyway.  This guy is suing congressmen folks, so this information needs to be forwarded on to them as well as Hillary, notified directly that if anything else transpires those who are supporting and funding him will also be held accountable, including the State Department. 

  22. Proof
    May 28th, 2012 @ 12:29 am

    I’m not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV, but this sounds like it could be a criminal conspiracy crossing state lines? (Not sure where Mr. Erickson resides).  Anyone drop a dime on the FBI yet? 

  23. Dr_Tesla
    May 28th, 2012 @ 12:30 am

    I don’t see how these bloggers would be angry at some guy who is skeptical that is all true.  It seems rather unbelivable that some dude is targeting all these bloggers just a few days after they write something.   It seesm like they could at least understand my skepticism, b/c their basic premise is that this isn’t the kind of thing that should happen in America. 

  24. Shawny
    May 28th, 2012 @ 12:47 am

    These bloggers did the research about this “dude” before they opened their mouths.  It seems rather unbelievable that some dude who hasn’t done any research on the reported event somehow feels justified in running his mouth.  They find it harder to understand your skepticism when it is instead freshly pulled out of your……..oh and you’re right, this kind of thing should never happen in America. 

  25. Wombat_socho
    May 28th, 2012 @ 12:50 am

     Not any more, he won’t.

  26. Bob Belvedere
    May 28th, 2012 @ 12:51 am

    The Calvary has arrived!

  27. Bob Belvedere
    May 28th, 2012 @ 12:54 am

    I love the sound of a Troll Hammer swinging in the morning.

  28. Shawny
    May 28th, 2012 @ 12:59 am

    MmmmMmmmmMmmmmm Barack Hussein Obama

  29. Shawny
    May 28th, 2012 @ 1:04 am

    Baby, now they’re gonna haul us in for talking to ourselves…..lol.   Ah, but it was worth it. 

  30. Evilbloggerlady
    May 28th, 2012 @ 1:07 am

    So is CNN reporting it?

  31. Evilbloggerlady
    May 28th, 2012 @ 1:10 am

    I am sorry Patterico and now Erickson are going through this.

  32. JeffS
    May 28th, 2012 @ 1:15 am

     YAYS!!!!!!!!!

  33. Dianna Deeley
    May 28th, 2012 @ 1:17 am

     Bless you, Wombat_socho!

  34. Dianna Deeley
    May 28th, 2012 @ 1:18 am

     I hope you meant “cavalry”, or I’m going into hiding!

  35. My Last Post on Brett Kimberlin
    May 28th, 2012 @ 1:47 am

    […] Stacy McCain Share this: : […]

  36. DaveO
    May 28th, 2012 @ 1:51 am

    And once you know the vocabulary, you can spoof it by using the words in comments on your enemy’s site, and avoid HLS overwatch by using other words, or euphemisms in place of the words.

    Like ‘ice cream cone’ for dirty CBRNE.

  37. DaveO
    May 28th, 2012 @ 2:09 am

    Depends on whether the recording is kept in an IT system. If the SWATter can hack into the local databases, a Law Enforcement database containing evidence of the SWATter is no biggie.

    The more technical we get, the more we have to return to the 1950s to get at the truth.

  38. Adjoran
    May 28th, 2012 @ 2:11 am

     The guy who called on Patterico bears a close resemblance to the voice of one of Kimberlin’s defenders, and the guy wouldn’t respond to a request from Lee Stranahan for a voice sample for testing.  In that case, the phone number was “spoofed” to read as coming from Patterico’s phone and house, and that seems to be what happened to Erickson, too.

    But it might not be the same guy, since in Erickson’s case he didn’t say the magic words which called out SWAT teams, just the deputies.

  39. Adjoran
    May 28th, 2012 @ 2:12 am

     This guy is a well known idiot from other sites.  Good riddance.

  40. DaveO
    May 28th, 2012 @ 2:18 am

    One problem is maintaining evidence. Police will have to incur additional expense safeguarding all 911 calls until fraudulent, and SWATting calls have been determined, and moved to an unhackable system.

    Additional stress on the system.

    Bottom line: SWATting is assassination-by-cop. That it hasn’t happened is miraculous given the quality of SWAT nation-wide.

  41. Shawny
    May 28th, 2012 @ 2:58 am

    I suppose it’s also possible that the provocation is intentional and they want someone killed to start something.   Maybe these are well funded tests with a made-to-order scapegoat to blame it on.    No doubt he’s a terrorist but all of this money backing his sorry ass is of even greater concern. 

  42. Shawny
    May 28th, 2012 @ 3:15 am

    Agreed, but though this isn’t the kind of maliciousness of tossing a burning bag of dog doo on the neighbors porch, it also isn’t all that technical.  Those records are required to be kept, removing them would immediately be suspect, changing them would be a lot harder. I’d stay tuned in to my scanner too.  

  43. Shawny
    May 28th, 2012 @ 3:28 am

    Thanks, I came late to the party and am still reading through all of the library of research and write-ups.  So, maybe someone with communications background and a bud set close by hooked into the line, or how do you get assigned a number or “spoofed” as you call it without being able to track it back for fraudulent use of the number through the carrier?  Think of the ramifications if they use your number for calls to the Taliban or just phone sex.

  44. Datechguy's Blog » Blog Archive » Brett Kimberlin shows why Wikipedia should not be used as a reference » Datechguy's Blog
    May 28th, 2012 @ 5:04 am

    […] 3:Stacy Opines It’s no secret that I sharply criticized Erickson during the 2012 presidential primary campaign, […]

  45. Adjoran
    May 28th, 2012 @ 5:47 am

     Nah, you can’t really hide anything these days, the problem is getting a subpoena or interesting the government agencies that have the access.

    They think they’re anonymous, but they aren’t.

  46. Adjoran
    May 28th, 2012 @ 5:51 am

     Well, Dr. Dumbass, this isn’t the police station in Erickson’s home county, which isn’t Macon, you idiot.

    Your reporting career is off to an inauspicious start if you’re seeking info on Georgia cop calls and private employer calls in Maryland on a blog in the comments section. 

    Virtually every post I’ve ever seen from you has been idiotic.  This is no exception.  Fluke off.

  47. Adjoran
    May 28th, 2012 @ 5:55 am

     Hackers have been doing this stuff for years, but I’m not hep to the technical details of how.  One thing they do is use Skype or another internet-based phone-calling service, and route it through one of the anonymizing IP services that don’t keep logs.  That way, you need a national security level interest to get any details.

  48. Adjoran
    May 28th, 2012 @ 5:56 am

     Patterico is all on them, and has them on the case, but apparently the assigned agent isn’t very interested and refused an offer of help from agents in the Dallas office with expertise in these sort of cases. 

  49. FOAF
    May 28th, 2012 @ 6:12 am

    ” all of this money backing his sorry ass is of even greater concern. ”

    Bingo.  BK is bad enough but his backing, both the amount and the fact that it comes from prominent sources such as Ms. Streisand is really disturbing and needs to be called out.  Along with the failure of the legal system so far to respond to the SWAT-ing.

  50. Adjoran
    May 28th, 2012 @ 6:17 am

    Listen to Lee Stranahan’s podcast w/Patterico from last night – the guy may have called in!  Patterico has a post comparing the voice from the NJ Swatter, to his, to the caller:  http://po.st/K5vGS5