Prank caller tells police he's holding hostages

Battle Creek police are searching for a man who made a prank call Thursday morning saying he was holding hostages and and wanted to kill police officers.

Officers said a man called an administrative line at Calhoun County Central Dispatch at 6:12 a.m. and said he had stabbed his girlfriend and was holding a gun to his head and threatening to kill his mother.

The caller said he was at the home of his grandparents in the 100 block of Jacaranda Drive and wanted to be transferred to a negotiator. Nine city officers with help from the Calhoun County Sheriff Department responded. Members of the Emergency Response Team were also called.

Officers said they surrounded the house and used a loudspeaker to tell anyone inside to come out. There was no response, Lt. Steve Bush said.

Officers contacted a neighbor who provided names of the residents and they were contacted by phone. Police said the couple were sleeping but came to the door.

Officers searched the house and found no one else and determined the call was a prank. Police said the caller did use the name of the resident's grandson. He is out of town and was contacted and police said he had no part in the incident.

Police believe the call was a prank but said they are continuing their search for the caller who could face criminal charges if he is found.​ Bush said the prank could have had serious implications both for the people inside the house and for responding officers.