Franklin Borough Police

By Sam Barron From Daily Voice

A 22-year-old West Milford man was arrested and charged after he made a phony report to law enforcement concerning threats he had received, authorities announced Tuesday, Oct. 21.

In June, Nathan Slingland told officers he was receiving threatening and harassing communications via cell phone from two individuals known to him, Franklin Boro police said. Slingland initially reported being in fear for his safety due to the alleged terroristic threats he had received, police said.

Officers were skeptical about the nature and origin of the messages and detectives began investigating further, police said.

Over the course of several weeks, it was determined that the phone numbers from which Slingland claimed to have received threats were associated with third-party texting applications, police said.

The email accounts and recovery phone numbers linked to those applications were registered under Slingland’s name and control. Evidence revealed that Slingland had sent the threatening messages to himself and then falsely reported them to law enforcement in an attempt to incriminate others, police said.

Last month, Slingland was charged with two counts of false report to law enforcement incriminating another, police said.