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Poplawski grandmother chains self to scene of police killings
Friday, April 10, 2009
By Sadie Gurman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Matt Freed/Post-Gazette
Catherine Scott, grandmother of Richard Poplawski, sitting outside the home on Fairfield Street in Stanton Heights earlier this evening. She said she would stay there until police let her collect personal belongings from the home.

The grandmother of a man accused of killing three Pittsburgh police officers chained herself to a guardrail outside her Stanton Heights home tonight and stayed there for hours, even after police unchained her and a crowd of mourners and angry neighbors looked on.

Saying she wanted to retrieve medical records, insurance records, clothes and other belongings from the home at 1016 Fairfield St., Catherine Scott, sat on the steps in front of her yard draped with a Steelers blanket, a book of "Healing Prayers" in one hand and a cigarette in the other.

Her grandson, Richard Poplawski, is accused of killing Pittsburgh police officers Paul Sciullo II, Stephen J. Mayhle and Eric Kelly when they responded to a domestic disturbance call at the house on April 4, 2009.

Police have said the inside of the home remains an active crime scene, which is why she has not been allowed inside, but declined to comment further.

Meanwhile, angry neighbors gathered by the dozens, saying Ms. Scott was "showboating" for camera crews and deflecting attention from the slain officers.

There was no indication of when Ms. Scott would leave.

First published on April 10, 2009 at 8:49 pm