Norwich CT - Ham radio operator arrested for alleged radio hoax

**YaesuVX8R** · Sat 29th May 2010, 18:29

http://www.norwichbulletin.com/news/...t-gunman-bogus

Norwich — Police today arrested a man who they said in January had fooled Wal-Mart store personnel into believing that someone armed with a shotgun was in front of the store and threatening to shoot people.

According to Norwich police, on Jan. 26, Keith J. Mutch, 35, of 1 Tanner Avenue, used a portable Ham radio-type of setup to pretend to transmit the report of an armed man at about 9:21 p.m. Security personnel at the store overheard the report over their two-way radio system and called police.

When they arrived, police determined the report of an armed man was false.

Mutch turned himself in this afternoon on a warrant charging him with second-degree breach of peace, first-degree reckless endangerment, and first-degree falsely reporting an incident.

Mutch was held on a $5,000 cash bond pending arraignment at Norwich Superior Court on Tuesday.

No further arrests are anticipated in this incident

**M0TZO** · Sat 29th May 2010, 21:07

Police said their investigation revealed Mutch had used a portable Ham radio set-up to make the transmission.

The article says he used a Ham Radio, but nothing to indicate he was actually licensed.

**5B4AJB** · Sat 29th May 2010, 23:02

If he'd read his license, he'd have seen the words "false or misleading" (or equivalent) - I wouldn't think he was a ham...

**yaesuuser** · Mon 21st Jun 2010, 02:25

How would they overhear the false call in unless they were on ham radios themselves? I think this guy used one of those little FRS bubble pack radios and found the frequency they were on and transmitted it. Last time I checked Wal Mart employees do not use HAM radio for anything.

**AE6ZW** · Thu 5th May 2011, 01:24

in US, person does not have to be a HAM ( licensed operator ) to buy or own transceiver. so many illegal radio user exist in HAM radio band, specially in 144 and 440 MHz band. also they often sell HAM radio cover 26 to 30 MHz, AM, FM, SSB, 100 watts, and many buyer use them illegally on CB band. selling as HAM radio seems to become excuse to have non-certified radio sold on open market.