Central Catholic Guidance Counselor Arrested on Drug Charges

WTAE
November 30, 2012

http://www.wtae.com/news/local/allegheny/Central-Catholic-guidance-counselor-arrested-on-drug-charges/-/10927008/17601872/-/fu8ykmz/-/index.html

When guidance counselor Kelly Scherer walked out of the doors of Central Catholic High School, police say she walked into a life of drug dealing at her Forest Hills apartment.

Scherer, 36, was arrested Thursday on seven charges, including possession with intent to deliver heroin, according to police records. There has been no indication of any suspected drug use or possession on the Central Catholic campus.

"I'm pretty close with Ms. Scherer, and I had no idea, and I didn't expect anything at all," said Jake Zovko, a Central Catholic senior.

Investigators said drug customers would park in the Taco Bell lot and walk across Ardmore Boulevard to Sumner Avenue to make their deals. Forest Hills police said it went on for some time, and they were watching it.

In the criminal complaint, police said they followed and arrested a man whom they watched buy drugs from Scherer, and he gave them the phone number of a person who he had called and who had sent him to Scherer. Then, police said, they called the person, who also sent them to Scherer, and they made a buy from her, according to the complaint.

"It's a real shame," said Emmett Cauley, a senior who went to Scherer for help with homework, tutoring and potential college choices. "You never like to see something like this happen, especially at a school like Central, where we're basically founded on prestige and tradition. It doesn't really represent our school very well."

In an email, Brother Patrick Duffy said Scherer was already on an "indefinite suspension" because of "unsatisfactory job performance" at the time of her arrest. The school's website no longer mentions Scherer's employment there.

Neighbors in Forest Hills were surprised to hear the news about Scherer's drug arrest.

"That's unbelievable, because Central Catholic has a beautiful name, beautiful reputation. It's not that. It's not Central Catholic," said Nicholas Koutabas.

"We are quiet, comfortable, our children can be safe out here, we don't hear gunshots or none of that. It's just hard to believe," said Florence Baker.