Cops: Ex-Pittsburgh mayoral candidate charged in 911 incidents

PITTSBURGH - A former Pittsburgh mayoral candidate and his wife are accused of making over 120 bogus 911 calls, reports CBS Pittsburgh.

Thirty-seven-year-old A.J. Richardson and his wife, Felicia, were in court Wednesday after a joint investigation by the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office and Pittsburgh police found that at least 120 calls were made to emergency dispatch from the couple's Sheraden home and cell phones in the month of March.

According to authorities, the calls began back on Feb. 9, and the city has spent over $11,000 investigating and responding to them. CBS Pittsburgh reports the investigation was opened on March 8.

The couple are facing charges including abuse of 911, filing false reports to 911, harassment, obstruction of justice, intimidation, disorderly conduct, and other criminal conspiracy counts.

A.J. Richardson denies that anyone in his family made the calls, and claims he was being harassed by authorities, according to the station.

A detective played audio from some of the recorded 911 calls in court Wednesday afternoon. "My husband is hurting me pretty badly," a voice is heard telling dispatch in a call from March 26. "He's pushing me around." CBS Pittsburgh reports the detective identified the voice as that of Richardson's 15-year-old son.

A.J. and Felicia Richardson were held for trial on all charges, except one against Felicia that was dropped. Their teenage sons were also charged, though the exact charges are unclear.

A.J. Richardson ran for mayor in 2013. In addition to this case, the suspect is facing burglary and assault charges in an unrelated incident. That trial is set to begin in May.