FOUNTAIN, Colo. (KXRM) — A large police response in Fountain on Friday, Sept. 12, for a rumored active shooter turned out to be a miscommunication, according to the Fountain Police Department.
FPD said its dispatchers received a 911 call shortly before noon on Friday from a man who said his wife had texted him about an active shooter in the area of the Quick Quack Car Wash on Timber Rail Point, southeast of Mesa Ridge Parkway and Highway 85/87. FPD said the text messages relayed that there was an active shooter in the area and the suspect had come from Mesa Ridge High School across the street.
FPD said the man reported his wife had stopped responding when he asked for a description of the shooter. Officers arrived in the area within three minutes, FPD said.
When officers arrived, they determined the location of the incident to be at Action Behavior Centers, and the area was cleared by officers and deputies with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office. Law enforcement determined there had been no threat.
“After interviews were conducted with the husband and his wife it was determined that the messages were a miscommunication,” FPD said. The man’s wife had been talking about a lockdown message sent from Mesa Ridge High School hours prior.
“This call accounted for a very large law enforcement response, including all available FPD and El Paso County Sheriff’s Deputies in the area,” FPD said. “The Fountain Police Department wants to reassure the public that our agency takes the threat of active shooter situations extremely seriously and continues to make preparedness and rapid response a top priority.”
Had this been a real emergency, FPD said it had trained and prepared for its response to be swift, as with the response on Friday.
“Our number one responsibility is protecting lives,” said Mark Cristiani, Chief of Police. “When seconds count, our officers are trained and ready to respond with urgency, professionalism, and courage.”
FPD continues to encourage the community to speak up if they see or hear anything concerning or suspicious.
“Public safety is a shared responsibility,” Chief Cristiani added. “When our community and officers work together, we can prevent tragedies and save lives.”
To remain anonymous, tips can be submitted to the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 719-634-7867 or the FPD tip line at 719-382-4200.
Anthony Sutton is a business strategist and writer with a passion for management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With years of experience in the corporate world, he shares insights on business growth, strategy, and innovation through management-opleiding.org.
