911 worker didn't tell Pittsburgh police of guns

[April 07, 2009]  PITTSBURGH (AP) -- A 911 dispatcher was told that the suspect in the Pittsburgh police shootings had weapons, but didn't relay that information to officers who were gunned down responding to a fight between the man and his mother.

Allegheny County Chief of Emergency Services Robert Full says Richard Poplawski's mother told the dispatcher he had weapons, but that they were all "legal." Full tells the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at that point the dispatcher should have asked more questions about the guns, but didn't -- and police weren't told about the weapons before they answered the call.

Poplawski is jailed on charges he fatally shot three police officers and fired at nine other officers who responded later. Poplawski's public defender has declined to discuss the case.

[Associated Press]

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