Pittsburgh police charge man after they say he made 'bizarre' 911 calls

A man was arrested by Pittsburgh police after investigators said he called 911 several times and made “bizarre statements and vague, but violent, threats to dispatchers.”

Officers from the city’s from Zone 4 station were directed to Melwood Avenue in Oakland shortly before 3:45 p.m. Thursday to search for the source of the calls, according to a Pittsburgh Public Safety spokeswoman.

In one call, the man said he was in a warehouse near Baum Boulevard, according to police.

In another call, police said the man claimed to be in a black van and that his address was in the 400 block of North Craig Street. Officers searched the address, which was unlocked and empty.

University of Pittsburgh police officers joined the search for the suspect and asked students to shelter in place. Police also diverted drivers out of the area where the search was being conducted.

Police used the signal from the man’s cellphone to track him to a second-floor parking garage for a business in the 400 block of Melwood Avenue, where they found him inside a vehicle he did not own.

Edward Szmuc, 36, of Pittsburgh was taken to a local hospital for treatment after telling officers that he suffers from diabetes.

After receiving medical treatment, Szmuc was taken taken to the Allegheny County Jail, where authorities said he fought with corrections officers and made violent threats against police.

According to police, one of the guards was elbowed in the face while trying to subdue the man.

Szmuc faces multiple charges including assault, burglary, making terroristic threats, criminal trespass, false alarm to agency of public safety, communications with 911 and prohibited acts.