Officials apologize for ‘dangerous subject’ false alarm
“There is no emergency at this time.”
Acton emergency officials are apologizing for an accidental emergency message that went out to residents Tuesday evening.
The Acton Bridge received text and email versions of the warning about a “lockdown” at 5:44 p.m. A roughly simultaneous phone call also said people should “shelter in place due to a dangerous subject possibly in the area.”
Police posted an update at 5:55 p.m. telling people to disregard the warning.
“This message was due to a system error,” police said. “There is no emergency at this time.”
Police Capt. Brian Goldman confirmed to The Bridge that the alert sent to Code Red clients “was accidental.” He attributed the misfire to a “training issue” with the use of a new platform.
Another automated phone call reiterated, “There is currently no threat to the public, no dangerous subject and no lockdown order.”
The call went on to say, “There is no emergency. … We apologize for any inconvenience or alarm the message may have caused.”
