18-Year-Old Pather Joyce Arrested After False Active Shooter Hoax at Standish Hannaford
Standish, Maine — An 18-year-old man was taken into custody after authorities confirmed that he placed a false 911 call claiming there was an active shooter inside the Hannaford supermarket on Friday morning.
According to the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, the suspect, identified as Pather Joyce of South Portland and formerly of Windham, allegedly used a deactivated cellphone to make the emergency call. The report came in around 11:20 a.m., stating that an armed individual was actively shooting inside the grocery store located at 71 Colonial Drive.
Following the call, deputies from the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the Gorham Police Department were immediately dispatched to the location. After securing the store and thoroughly assessing the situation, officers determined there was no threat and that the report was entirely false.
During the investigation, law enforcement identified Joyce as the individual responsible for the hoax. He was arrested without incident inside the store and taken to the Cumberland County Jail.
Officials stated that Joyce has been charged with false public alarm or report, a criminal offense under Maine law. In a statement, the Sheriff’s Office highlighted the seriousness of such incidents:
“Swatting calls are extremely serious because they trigger a large and immediate response from law enforcement and other emergency resources until it can be confirmed that no threat exists.”
No injuries were reported, and authorities say the investigation is ongoing.
