Staff Report
KYLE — The Kyle Police Department (KPD) responded to multiple threats made against Kyle City Hall just before the start of the regularly scheduled Kyle City Council meeting Tuesday, July 16.
At approximately 6:53 p.m., the department received a call claiming a bomb had been placed beneath a nearby vehicle. According to a news release, the caller also stated they were armed and intended to shoot officers as they arrived.
Officers already on site for the meeting immediately began evacuating and securing the building, while conducting a thorough search of the premises. No credible threats or suspicious items were found.
Investigators believe the incident to be a case of “swatting.” This is the act of making a false emergency report with the intent of prompting a heavy police or Special Weapons and Tactics response.
As a result of the incident, the council meeting was recessed and will resume on Wednesday, July 16, at 7 p.m. Additional officers will be present during the meeting to ensure the continued safety of all attendees.
“We treat every threat with the utmost seriousness and respond with urgency to protect our community,” said KPD chief Jeff Barnett. “In this case, our officers were already present and acted quickly to secure the area, ensuring the safety of everyone involved.”
KPD reminded the public that making false emergency reports is a serious criminal offense that endangers lives and diverts critical public safety resources. If a resident sees or hears something suspicious, report it immediately to local law enforcement.
