What was supposed to be a routine SWAT training exercise, turned out to be a major fiasco...

On Thursday, June 26th, a pepper gas canister was set off as part of a set of training exercises held for a Pittsburgh police Special Weapons and Tactics Team. Officials said that the exercise was being held in a house to simulate real-life settings officers encounter while on calls.

The concentrated pepper spray seeped from the vacant house at 220 North Linden Avenue in North Point Breeze and sent 28 neighborhood residents to the hospital. Those affected were in the area surrounding the house and the 6700 and 6800 blocks of McPherson Boulevard. Affected residents suffrered from coughing, lightheadedness, nasal congestion, sneezing and throat constriction.

Cmdr. Dom Costa, Lt. Mark Romutis and Sgt. Paul Minella -- the three supervisors of the SWAT mishap -- were reprimanded and had memos placed in their permanent records.

Police Chief Robert W. McNeily Jr. also requested that the officers also meet with those affected by the gas to formally apologize. McNeilly also stated that in the future, procedures will be changed for the SWAT team which includes closer communication with the zone police departments and the communities.

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