W-b Area Finishes Probe Into Teacher/ Allegations Have Been Made Versus
Teacher. School District Will Announce Results After Holidays

Additional Drug Raid Nets Cash, Silver Coins/ As Part Of Operation Cold Start,
Police Serve A Warrant At A Second West Hazleton Home.

By TERRIE MORGAN-BESECKER tmorgan@leader.net
 Friday, December 23, 2005 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





A recent drug bust that resulted from an undercover officer who posed as a
resident of a subsidized housing complex is just one example of the aggressive
approach the Luzerne County Housing Authority is taking to rid its buildings
of dealers, a housing official said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Daniel Siani, director of housing management, said he was happy to oblige
when Exeter police asked the authority to provide an apartment for the
officer, who lived for four months at the authority's housing development on
Schooley Avenue. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The elaborate sting resulted in the arrest of 11 people, including four
juveniles, who are charged with selling various drugs to the officer. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Siani said the authority has provided apartments for police departments who
have conducted similar undercover investigations at other complexes located in
11 communities countywide. Those operations were much shorter in duration and
were not as successful. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "This was the largest undertaking so far, and it resulted in the most
arrests," he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 While he's pleased with the outcome, Siani said he's concerned the bust
paints a negative picture of all people who live in subsidized housing. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The authority takes extensive measure to check out potential residents -
including criminal background checks - but it's difficult to control what
happens after a tenant moves in, he said. That's where local police
departments have been exceptionally helpful. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "They help us tremendously with police reports, with testimony in some
cases, that enables us to build a case against a tenant," Siani said.
"Sometimes they'll tell us who the problem people are. Sometimes we tell them
who we suspect of causing problems. It's a two-way street." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The authority is aggressive in seeking to evict persons who are charged
with crimes. Siani said changes made several years ago to federal regulations
gave housing officials the power to evict persons if they were charged with
crimes committed on or off the premises. Previously the crime had to be
committed within or near the housing development where they lived, he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Of the 11 people arrested Dec. 14, three lived in the complex. Siani said
the authority will seek to evict those persons. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He said its possible other tenants who were not directly involved in the
drug sales could face eviction if it can be proven they were responsible for
bringing into the complex any friends who were arrested in the bust. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Our leases state the tenant is responsible for the behavior of their
guests," Siani said. "If someone brings someone in who is drunk and
disorderly, a tenant can be evicted for bringing them in." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

County Housing Authority Happy With Police Help/ A Sting Last Week In Exeter Garnered The Most Arrests Of Operations At Authority Complexes.