A woman is facing charges after what police say was a false report involving St. Joseph County Councilwoman Amy Drake.
Prosecutors have charged 45-year-old Gloria Niedbalski with identity deception and false informing. Investigators say she called the Indiana Department of Child Services hotline in December, claiming Drake’s young children were home alone while Drake attended a county council meeting about a proposed data center near New Carlisle.
Police say Niedbalski pretended to be Drake’s neighbor, but the call was traced back to Niedbalski’s phone.
Councilwoman Drake Responds to Swatting Arrest:
“I am grateful to learn that one of the persons responsible for swatting my family and endangering their lives was arrested and charged with crimes this week.
This horrific act in December was traumatizing. My family was awakened in the middle of the night with armed police officers pounding on the front door of our home. Police and a DCS employee were there based on a false report that my children were home alone and in danger.
Swatting incidents like this are dangerous for all involved. I am thankful that no tragedy unfolded, because these types of situations have the potential to lead to fatal consequences.
Mine was just one of many swatting incidents aimed at government representatives recently in Indiana. Even worse, it came hours after several county council members and I voted against the suspect’s appointment to a county board. I am still shocked that anyone would engage in political vengeance like this.
I hope the perpetrator of this crime receives her just punishment, proving the seriousness of these crimes and deterring others from employing these dangerous methods to intimidate lawmakers.
Furthermore, I hope this will highlight misuses of the Indiana Department of Child Services hotline, where anonymous reporting can be weaponized to torment families.
I appreciate that the prosecutor and state police have pursued this case.”
1 comment
So she didn’t know (or guess) they logged the phone numbers of callers and used her own cell phone?
That’s hilarious!
Protip: use a burner phone when you try to SWAT someone.