Armed robbery hoax causes scare in Fresno County

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A false report of an armed robbery in Sanger led to a standoff at an empty building.

The Fresno County Sheriff's Office says the call came in as two to three armed men inside the Schoolhouse Tavern with possible hostages.

A SWAT team responded along with multiple agencies and surrounded the restaurant.

Investigators say they realized it was closed, but there were cars outside so the SWAT team searched the building just to make sure everything was okay.

Once it was cleared, deputies turned their attention to the man who called it in.

"When lives are at stake, we have to go off the information we have at that time and certainly we're going to take it very seriously until we determine otherwise," Lt. Ryan Hushaw with the Fresno County Sheriff's Office said.

Investigators the person who called in the armed robbery may have mental health issues.

He was interviewed and he could be facing criminal charges.