A Chalfont man faces criminal charges for making false reports of an impending shooting at a high school football game.

Jake Paul Cosby, 19, was charged Friday with misdemeanor counts of false alarms to agencies of public safety, terroristic threats and false reports to law enforcement stemming from his claims.

According to a criminal complaint, Cosby told police Friday afternoon he had knowledge that a Central Bucks West student was planning to attempt a mass shooting during the school's football game that evening.

Police from multiple agencies responded immediately to boost security for the game, with officers detailed from Central Bucks Regional Police Department and Doylestown Township Police Department. A bomb-detecting K-9 unit and officer from Quakertown Borough Police Department also responded, Central Bucks School District added additional private security and game officials and coaches from both teams were advised of the reported threat.

Meanwhile, investigators set to work verifying Cosby’s claims. His reports were soon determined to be baseless.

“Our first priority was the safety of all of the people at the CB West football game, and of the surrounding community,” said Bucks County District Attorney Matthew D. Weintraub. “Once we were able to ascertain that this threat had no foundational basis, and that the community was indeed safe, we then focused on holding the individual making these threats criminally accountable for his actions. Once again, we are privileged to have members of local, county and state law enforcement officers who demonstrated dedication to their common mission of keeping their community safe by bringing this critical investigation to a swift and safe conclusion.”

Cosby is expected to be arraigned in the coming days.

Police first learned of Cosby’s claims just after 1:30 p.m. Friday when contacted about a threat to a high school.

Officers interviewed Cosby, who told investigators the student would be hiding a pistol and assault rifle inside a trash can at or near the football field, the complaint says. Searches by police located no weapons at the field.

Cosby said he received this information through messages exchanged via the Instagram app on his cell phone, the complaint says. Bucks County Detectives examined the contents of his phone and found no such messages existed. Some four hours after the initial report, according to the complaint, Cosby told police he had lied about the threat to the school and possessed no knowledge of any threat.

Following the interview, Cosby was transported for a medical evaluation.

This case was investigated by Central Bucks Regional Police Department, Doylestown Township Police Department and Bucks County Detectives with assistance from the Quakertown Borough Police Department and Pennsylvania State Police. Deputy District Attorney Antonetta Stancu is assigned for prosecution.

Contact: James O’Malley, 215.348.6298, jtomalley@buckscounty.org

Criminal charges are allegations subject to proof in court. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.