Roads back open after false report forced Janesville police to put up blockade

Initial call to police was for shots fired

JANESVILLE, Wis. — Janesville residents are back in their homes after being evacuated by police due to a report of shots fired Sunday afternoon.

Dispatch confirmed police were sent to the 300 block of East Racine Street at 4:17 p.m.

Janesville police Sgt. Mike Blaser said officers had a perimeter blocked off around the residence while they attempted to contact someone inside. At the time, police didn’t know if anyone was inside the home.

Sgt. Mark Ratzlaff told News 3 police attempted to make contact with the alleged person or persons inside the home, but were unsuccessful. Ratzlaff said a SWAT team entered the home and discovered there was no one inside.

Sgt. Ratzlaff said police cleared the house and the surrounding roads. He said an investigation continues into several other leads, but there are no suspects at this time.

The Janesville Police Department classified Sunday’s incident as a false report.