Red Wing Police Announce Swatting Incidents Linked to International Cybercrime Group, Additional Significant Arrests
RED WING, MINNESOTA - The Red Wing Police Department (RWPD) announced a series of significant law enforcement actions this week that spanned from local arrests to international cooperation with U.S. and foreign agencies.
Swatting Incidents Linked to International Cybercrime Network
Authorities say RWPD officers and Red Wing firefighters responded to two alarming emergency calls on October 14 and October 16, 2025, involving reports of multiple shooting victims at a residence in the 1300 block of East Avenue. Both calls were quickly determined to be “swatting” incidents, false reports designed to provoke a heavy police response.
An investigation by RWPD’s Investigations Unit uncovered connections between these hoaxes and an organized cybercrime group known for targeting children and teenagers through online extortion and acts of intimidation. Officials say the suspects are affiliated with an extremist organization that has been designated a terrorist group by the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI.
Working alongside federal and international agencies, including law enforcement authorities in the United Kingdom, RWPD investigators helped coordinate a global operation that led to an arrest overseas on October 24, 2025, in direct connection with the Red Wing swatting incidents. The case remains under active investigation.
Fugitive Arrested in Red Wing
In a separate case, RWPD partnered with the U.S. Marshals Service to locate and arrest 48-year-old Jason Shelby Richards, a fugitive wanted in Anchorage, Alaska, on charges related to crimes against children. Richards was apprehended in Red Wing on October 21 after several days of coordinated surveillance and tracking efforts.
Provided by the Goodhue County Jail.
Stolen Vehicle and Burglary Investigation
RWPD also recovered a stolen vehicle in North Minneapolis this week, linked to a burglary reported in Red Wing on October 20, 2025. Investigators say that the case remains ongoing.
Commitment to Public Safety
“These cases show the scope of what we do, from fugitive recovery to international cybercrime,” said Captain Huberty of the Red Wing Police Department. “Our mission is the same no matter the distance: keeping Red Wing safe through teamwork and partnerships.”
RWPD encourages residents to report suspicious activity and reminds the community that coordinated investigative work, whether local or global, continues to play a key role in keeping Red Wing and its citizens secure.
Written by: Will Wight
