MARION, Ohio - An East Liverpool man who is already wanted by authorities in Columbiana County is now accused of making false reports of shootings and hostage situations.

Ronnie McCallister, 47, was arrested by the Marion County, Ohio Sheriff’s Office after deputies began investigating weekend reports from a local resident of threatening phone calls and texts being made.

During the investigation, the same person placing these calls began calling in shootings and hostage-type situations to addresses in Marion County and City, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

On Tuesday, another call was received from this same person reporting another shooting and people being killed at a Marion address and that members of law enforcement would also be shot when they responded.

The practice has become known as “swatting” because the false calls frequently result in large police responses including from SWAT teams.

After determining that all the calls were coming from “spoofed” numbers, investigators were able to pinpoint an IP address being used by the caller.

Deputies traced the IP address to a Red Roof Inn hotel in Middleburg Heights, Ohio where McCallister had been staying for several months.

McCallister was arrested and taken to jail on several prior warrants, including one from Columbiana County Common Pleas Court where he failed to show up for a hearing in May of last year after being indicted on charges of obstructing official business and receiving stolen property in a case involving the theft of a rented car.

“This should be a notice to those that make these types of Swatting Calls, that we will find you and you will be arrested,” said Marion County Sheriff Matt Bayles.’

The case has been submitted to Marion County Prosecutor Ray Grogan for the charges of Making Terroristic Threats, Swatting, Inducing Panic, Menacing by Stalking, and Aggravated Menacing.