Police arrest man, wife for alleged fake 911 calls
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Police have arrested a community activist, his wife and two of their juvenile sons for allegedly making more than 100 unnecessary 911 phone calls over the last two months.
Authorities say 37-year-old Abdula Richardson and 43-year-old Felecia Richardson were arrested Friday and charged with multiple counts of criminal conspiracy and making false reports.
Police say they spent in excess of $11,000 investigating and responding to the calls. Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala Jr. claims that Richardson hoped to use the ongoing dispute as evidence of police bias when he stands trial later this year in an assault and burglary case.
Richardson has claimed he and his family didn’t make the 911 calls.
Richardson’s defense attorney, Frankie C. Walker II, didn’t immediately return a call for comment.