Bradenton Man Arrested After Alleged Swatting Hoax Triggers Major Police Response at Twin Dolphin Marina
A Hernando County man has been arrested after investigators said he orchestrated a swatting hoax that prompted a large-scale law enforcement response at Twin Dolphin Marina in Bradenton.
According to the Bradenton Police Department, officers responded after someone using the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline chat platform claimed to be armed aboard a boat, reported killing at least one woman, and threatened to take his own life. The individual also provided the phone number of a local boat owner, leading authorities to believe the threat was credible.
The report triggered an extensive emergency response involving patrol officers, a SWAT team, hostage negotiators, and a drone unit, all of whom responded to the marina to locate the suspected gunman.
Investigators later contacted the boat owner and a woman who was aboard the vessel. Both were unharmed and told officers they had no knowledge of the online threats.
During the investigation, the couple identified the woman’s husband, 33-year-old Ronald Sellars, as someone who had repeatedly attempted to contact them on May 28 and May 29.
Although Sellars denied making contact with the crisis hotline, detectives said they recovered digital evidence linking his personal electronic devices to the online chat used to make the false report.
Sellars was arrested on Friday in Hernando County and charged with filing a false police report and unlawful use of a two-way communications device.
Police have not released a motive for the alleged hoax and have not disclosed the specific digital investigative methods used to connect Sellars to the chat messages. Authorities also have not identified the boat owner or Sellars’ wife.
Swatting involves making a false emergency report to prompt a large law enforcement response. Authorities warn that such hoaxes divert emergency resources, place first responders and the public at risk, and can delay responses to genuine emergencies.
