Posted on: February 25, 2025 09:30 PM

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State Police arrest individual for Swatting Hoax in Westchester County

The New York State Police have arrested an individual in connection with a swatting incident that led to an emergency response at a residence in Amawalk, NY.

On February 20, 2025, at approximately 11:12 AM, Troopers and Investigators from SP Somers Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) responded to a report of a violent assault in progress at a residence on Chalmers Boulevard. The caller, an unknown female, reported, "My neighbor is assaulting his wife, and her head is cracked open." Shortly after, the caller provided conflicting information about their identity and location, first claiming to be from Maryland, then correcting themselves to Poughkeepsie, NY, while stating they were traveling on Interstate 684.

Upon arrival, troopers quickly determined that the call was a hoax. Further investigation revealed that a similar false report had been made earlier that day regarding the complainant’s son at his residence in Pawling, NY, using the same language. The son identified a former high school classmate, Mikel Kolaj, age 31, of Mahopac, NY, as a potential suspect, citing prior threats against his brother’s girlfriend and a swatting incident on New Year’s Day.

Investigators learned that Kolaj was also the subject of an ongoing criminal case with the Eastchester Police Department for a similar swatting incident. Upon locating Kolaj, he provided a full confession, admitting to making multiple swatting calls in the past, including this one. He stated that his first swatting incident had occurred at the beginning of the year and targeted the same family.

Kolaj was taken into custody and transported to SP Somers for further investigation. He was subsequently arrested and charged with (3) counts of Falsely Reporting a Crime (Class A Misdemeanor).

Kolaj also admitted to previous swatting incidents, including two within the Eastchester Police Department’s jurisdiction. Per the District Attorney’s Office, he was released on his own recognizance, and an Order of Protection was issued for the victim/complainant in this case.

Swatting is a dangerous criminal act that diverts emergency resources and places individuals at risk. The New York State Police take these incidents seriously and will continue to investigate and arrest those responsible.

From NYSP