Hostage Hoax Prompts Sheriff's Department Warning

Following a Jan. 2 hoax in Newbury Park, the Ventura County Sheriff's Department has issued a reminder that making false reports or threats to law enforcement officials is a crime.

According to a statement issued by the department, its communication center received a call from someone claiming to be holding several people hostage at a Newbury Park hotel and threatening to injure them as well as responding emergency services personnel.

When specialized forces from the sheriff's department and Thousand Oaks Police Department, fire department and other agencies responded and investigated the situation, they "determined that the entire incident was a hoax, therefore no threat to public safety," the statement said.

The East County Major Crimes Unit and other agencies continue to investigate the incident.

The Sheriff's Department noted resources which could otherwise be used for legitimate calls in the community are tied up when these types of calls come in. Hoax calls, the statement reminded, are "taken seriously and are a felony crime in the State of California, subject to prosecution."