80-year-old man caught in swatting call that triggered law enforcement response

A scary scene unfolded in a quiet northwest Miami-Dade neighborhood when deputies were dispatched to what they believed was a violent crime in progress.

NBC6 Investigates obtained the call to 911. A person who identified himself as Joshua tells the dispatcher he believes someone in the home is dead after being stabbed in the neck.

“They were arguing, [name redacted] stabbed her in the neck, and she hasn’t answered me when I call her name.”

The caller says he is inside the home and witnessed the violent crime.

“How do you know that she was stabbed in the neck?” the dispatcher asked. “I watched it happen,” the caller responded. 

But when Miami-Dade deputies got there, they found no victims, no injuries, no crime scene — only an 80-year-old man and his guest, shocked by the show of force. 

A SWATTING SCARE 

In an exclusive interview with NBC6 Investigates, Robert Borello, 80, shared his experience.

“I’d like others to know that something like this does happen and could happen, so at least they’re prepared for it,” Borello said.

It was the afternoon of March 28, when Borello said he was having lunch with a friend on his back patio when he heard knocking at his door.

“And there was two police officers there,” he said.

Video from a neighbor’s camera shows several Miami-Dade Sheriff’s cars lining the street in front of the property.

“I was like really surprised, and because my dog was with me. He (deputy) said, ‘Get that dog away, or I’ll shoot it.’ And I looked at him like what?” Borello said.

According to an incident report from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, deputies were told they were responding to a reported emergency— two victims stabbed, one of them possibly dead. But Borello says he didn’t know that when he answered the door and tried to understand why deputies were there. 

“I said, do you have a search warrant? I’ll answer any of your questions. He said, ‘We don’t need a search warrant. We’re here because there’s been a murder.’ I said, a murder?” Borello recalled.

As he tried to secure the dog, Borello said he saw more deputies out back surrounding his friend.

 “They came up with guns and pointed at him. And the next thing you know, they forced him on the ground and put handcuffs on him,” he said, “And one officer grabbed me and pushed me down on my bench there near the door.”

But several minutes later, deputies learned there was no crime scene.

“So, I guess they came in, and they checked all the rooms and of course, there was nobody, nobody dead,” Borello said.

‘YOU JUST GOT LIED TO’

The 911 call lasted nearly nine minutes and MDSO records show deputies arrived at the house just four minutes after being dispatched. The caller ultimately reveals to the dispatcher the call was a hoax.

 “Wait, are the officers here, miss?” the caller asks the dispatcher. “You can step out. They’re telling me to tell you to step out,” she responded.

“All right, well, you just got lied to. Have a good day,” the caller replied before hanging up.

What happened to Borello is known as swatting – when someone makes a fake emergency call, triggering a heavy police response. 

When he asked what brought deputies to his home, Borello says a sergeant told him it was an untraceable call, and he says ultimately apologized.

“It’s like, wait a minute, you’re not safe in your own home any longer?” Borello said.

TRACKING FAKE EMERGENCY CALLS 

The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office tells NBC6 Investigates it does not have a specific category to track swatting calls – making it hard to know how often they happen.

The agency does track calls involving bombs and explosives and says since March they have received at least 31 false bomb calls across the count including at Zoo Miami, Dolphin and Dadeland malls, and several schools.

In a statement, an MDSO spokesperson said:

“Swatting calls are not a prank; they are a serious crime that endangers lives and diverts critical resources from real emergencies. If deputies get dispatched to your location, remain calm and follow all commands until the scene is secured and deemed safe. The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office takes these incidents seriously and will pursue charges against those responsible.”

OPEN INVESTIGATIONS

MDSO says their internal affairs department received a complaint from Borello, which is currently under investigation. The call itself is also the subject of an investigation, as deputies work to track down the identity of the person who made the call.

Borello believes more precautions are needed in situations where it cannot be determined who is placing the call. 

“And there’s no reason for the police officer to get physical with me. I was no threat to the police officer,” he said. “I am very, very disappointed and disheartened.”

Borello says he’s concerned the situation could have ended much worse.

“I mean, my gosh, when guns are being held at people’s heads, I mean, that could turn into a disaster.”

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