Lakeland police are trying to identify a 911 caller whose false claim of an active shooter triggered a massive response at the Ford’s Garage restaurant in north Lakeland Monday evening. The restaurant’s managing partner told News Channel 8 he was “scared to my core” when the restaurant was suddenly surrounded by first responders. False reports like this are a “huge waste of resources” that also threaten public safety, police spokeswoman Robin Tillett told the station.
Barry Friedman founded Lkldnow.com in 2015 as the culmination of a career in print and digital journalism. Since 1982, he has used the tools of reporting, editing and content curation to help people in Lakeland understand their community better.
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