Policewomen sent anthrax hoax from patrol car

Two Philadelphia policewomen sent an obscenity-riddled anthrax hoax from their patrol car computer to every police car and dispatch centre in the city.

District Attorney Lynne Abraham said the text message read in part: ‘‘We don’t care ... We can’t stand America. We have anthrax in our car ...’’

Officers Gina McFadden and Dawn Norman, both 25, turned themselves in yesterday after warrants were issued for their arrest, Abraham said.

McFadden suffered ‘‘some sort of panic attack’’ while in custody and was in the intensive care unit at Riddle Memorial Hospital in Media, police spokesman Sgt Roland Lee said.

The women could be sentenced to up to 46 years in jail if convicted on all nine charges, including felony counts of criminal mischief and criminal conspiracy and misdemeanour counts of terroristic threats and making false reports, Abraham said.

‘‘I believe it was something that got out of hand,’’ said Deputy Police Commissioner John Norris, head of Internal Affairs. ‘‘I think after they sent it they realised it was a mistake.’’

Norris said the officers denied sending the message, but would not divulge how they explained the incident.

‘‘We don’t know whether they were joking or serious but obviously they were fooling around, while on duty, in a police car and in full uniform,’’ Abraham said.

Norman’s lawyer, Jeff Kolansky, said his client told investigators that McFadden typed the message as a joke. He said Norman ‘‘thought the message had been deleted but apparently it was sent’’.

McFadden, a police officer since January 2000, and Norman, an officer since October 1997, had no prior disciplinary problems, Norris said. They will be suspended for 30 days with intent to dismiss, he said.