KENOSHA, Wis. — A 47-year-old Kenosha woman accused of making a false emergency report that drew nearly every patrol squad on duty was in court Friday, where a commissioner allowed her to sign herself out of jail without posting any cash.

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Danielle J. Barnes was charged with one felony count of false reporting of an emergency — commonly referred to as “swatting” — after allegedly telling dispatchers on May 4 that an armed man had forced a woman into a transitional living facility in the 4000 block of 14th Avenue, on Kenosha’s north side.

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According to the criminal complaint, the call prompted a massive police response, with officers drawing their firearms and conducting a sweep of the building. No armed man or emergency was found.

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Kenosha County Deputy District Attorney Drew Burgoyne asked Court Commissioner Donald Bielski to impose a $5,000 cash bond, citing the serious danger posed by the alleged conduct and listing Barnes’ prior convictions, including identity theft in 2010, resisting or obstructing in both 2009 and 2016, and repeated disorderly conduct charges dating back to 2007.

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“The charge here is a felony,” Burgoyne said in court. “It’s swatting — false reporting of an emergency. It’s a type of conduct that has the potential to cause harm to the community. Highly trained officers are tied up having to respond to this instead of to an actual emergency.”

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Despite the prosecution’s concerns, Commissioner Bielski found Barnes’ record to be dated and said the nature of the charge was “rather unusual.” He authorized a signature bond, meaning Barnes was released without paying money up front.

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The criminal complaint includes an admission from Barnes that she falsely claimed a man had a gun. She told police she was angry and “probably just said something.” She later added that she thought the man might have had “something black” in his hand but admitted she wasn’t sure what it was.

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Barnes is scheduled to return to court for a preliminary hearing on May 23. If convicted, she faces up to 3 years and 6 months in prison and a $10,000 fine.

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