Last Wednesday a seemingly normal day on the Butler square was interrupted by sirens and fast acting law officers as a report that a murder had taken place, and a mad gunman was on the loose.
The Butler police department, along with the Bates County Sheriff's department responded expecting the worst, only to find it was a hoax. The initial report was that "a woman was shot dead and another was being held at gunpoint" at 21 N. Main street. However, all was normal at the address, a quilt shop.
To be sure, another quilt shop at 108 W. Dakota was checked out. Nothing out of the ordinary there either.
Thinking ahead, Butler Police Chief Terry Boyd and Sheriff Chad Anderson had suspicions that the false call might be a diversion, as another crime might be taking place elsewhere in town while officers were busy in downtown Butler. After a full sweep of the area, nothing was found.
The initial report of the murder was made over the internet. The investigation is ongoing at this time.
