A Philadelphia teacher was arraigned Wednesday morning after he was allegedly caught selling drugs only two miles away from the school where he teaches.
Sources close to the investigation say narcotics officers were patrolling the area of Castor Avenue and Benner Street near Northeast Preparatory School shortly before 2 p.m. Tuesday. As they were patrolling, sources say they spotted Paul Smith selling heroin out of his Nissan Pathfinder to a man at the intersection.
Smith, a married father of two, taught history for about a year at Northeast Prep. Sources say the officers approached the 35-year-old and found 25 packets of heroin, including a bundle he allegedly tried to throw from his vehicle. Sources also say the officers found two cell phones and nearly $200 inside the Pathfinder.
“I’m at a loss for words for this,” said Dennis Probst, an administrator at Northeast Prep.
Probst says he’s taking immediate action against Smith.
“He’s fired immediately,” Probst said. “I will not have that person around my school or around my kids at all.”
Smith was taken into custody and charged three drug counts including possession with intent to deliver. A Philadelphia municipal judge arraigned Smith on the counts and set bail at 10 percent of $5,000.
Smith posted bail early Wednesday. He is due back in court next week for a status hearing.
Smith does not have any prior arrests.
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