Burlington family still shaken months after swatting incident

A family in Burlington is still reeling from a swatting incident that happened to them over nine months ago.

Halton police’s tactical unit arrived on their front doorstep, guns drawn, investigating a call that officers told them came from inside their home.

According to the family, no such call was made.

Video footage of the scene at Jeannie Olchowy’s front porch last August shows police with the Halton police tactical unit yelling, while her daughter Jennifer was on the phone with an officer saying, “they’re telling me to put my hands up.”

“I don’t sleep,” said Olchowy. “I wake up, and I’m crying and it’s been very tough.”

This is swatting: Halton police are responding to a report of an active shooter that does not exist — the family is confused and police don’t know what the situation is inside the house. Guns are drawn and the family is afraid.

“I noticed there was a group of police officers, a SWAT team at the end of my driveway and they asked me to come out, and I said ‘no’,” said Nick Olchowy, Jennifer’s father. “I’m not coming out, and my daughter is taking care of what’s happening.”

Former CHCH News producer Nick was in shock with the events unfolding on his lawn last August and being told the call to police came from inside his house.

CHCH News reached out to Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) for an on-camera interview.

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They declined, but provided a written statement which reads, “Police have a duty to respond strategically to active and potential threats to protect the community. Most often in the case of a swatting incident, the ‘caller’ alleges an ongoing violent incident is taking place and officers must respond to meet any and all potential threats, until such time as the incident is proven to be false.”

The Halton police statement also said this remains an active criminal investigation.

However, the Olchowy family remains traumatized.

Victim services reached out in late August of 2025 and the family says they have not received any communication since.

“You got more in your written statement than we have in all the time that they’ve known about this,” said Jennifer.

The family also filed a formal complaint with the Law Enforcement Complaints Agency of Ontario, who then flipped it to the HRPS, who have since dismissed the complaint.

Many months later, Nick and Olchowy still feel the effects of that day and say they barely leave the house.

“It hasn’t been normal,” said Olchowy.

Waiting for answers, to find peace, closure and begin to heal.

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