By CHRISTINE OLLEY Philadelphia Daily News
olleyc@phillynews.com 215-854-5184
Financial records were seized from two Philadelphia charter schools yesterday morning, the latest in a string of investigations into possible financial mismanagement at city charters.
Federal agents retrieved records from the Community Academy of Philadelphia Charter School, on Erie Avenue near J street in Juniata, and from Fairhill Community High School, on 4th Street near Somerset, in Fairhill, said Michael Mustokoff, an attorney representing both schools.
Mustokoff said that he was told two weeks ago by the School District of Philadelphia that both schools' records would be picked up yesterday for review.
"The records were on-site and available," Mustokoff said.
"We were surprised by the unnecessary appearance of FBI agents to retrieve the very same records that were awaiting inspection."
Special Agent Frank Burton, of the FBI, said he could neither confirm nor deny the agency's involvement in yesterday's events.
Community Academy of Philadelphia was the first charter school to open in Philadelphia in 1997, according to the Web site of One Bright Ray Inc., the organization that runs both schools.
In recent months, several Philadelphia-area charter schools have come under investigation for fiscal wrongdoing.
Last month, two leaders of the Philadelphia Academy Charter School pleaded guilty in federal court to stealing funds from the school. In May, Brien N. Gardiner, founder of the school, committed suicide.
Allegations of financial mismanagement have also been leveled at New Media Technology Charter School, with campuses in the city's Germantown and Stenton neighborhoods, and Germantown Settlement Charter School, which closed in June.
It was unclear whether yesterday's events were related to the other investigations.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Girl lost in river
By CHRISTINE OLLEY Philadelphia Daily News
olleyc@phillynews.com 215-854-5184
TRAGEDY STRUCK in Southwest Philadelphia last night when a 9-year-old girl playing with friends was pushed into the Schuylkill, police said.
According to Lt. John Walker, of Southwest Detectives, the girl was playing with a group of friends at about 8 p.m. on the riverbank near 56th Street and Harley Drive, behind the Bartram Village housing project. She was holding onto the dock when a boy jokingly pushed her in, Walker said.
“The currents were so fast that she panicked because she couldn’t swim,” Walker said.
Two of the girl’s friends tried to grab her but were unable to hold on, Walker said.
The children ran up the street, where they flagged down two highway patrol officers, who initiated a search.
“We were in the water by about 8 o’clock, and have been searching for about two hours and have not been able to locate the child,” Walker said at about 10 p.m.“It was probably just a hot day and they wanted to go down to the water and play, not realizing the true dangers of the water,” he said.
olleyc@phillynews.com 215-854-5184
TRAGEDY STRUCK in Southwest Philadelphia last night when a 9-year-old girl playing with friends was pushed into the Schuylkill, police said.
According to Lt. John Walker, of Southwest Detectives, the girl was playing with a group of friends at about 8 p.m. on the riverbank near 56th Street and Harley Drive, behind the Bartram Village housing project. She was holding onto the dock when a boy jokingly pushed her in, Walker said.
“The currents were so fast that she panicked because she couldn’t swim,” Walker said.
Two of the girl’s friends tried to grab her but were unable to hold on, Walker said.
The children ran up the street, where they flagged down two highway patrol officers, who initiated a search.
“We were in the water by about 8 o’clock, and have been searching for about two hours and have not been able to locate the child,” Walker said at about 10 p.m.“It was probably just a hot day and they wanted to go down to the water and play, not realizing the true dangers of the water,” he said.
Fires puzzle, scare N. Philly neighbors
By CHRISTINE OLLEY Philadelphia Daily News
olleyc@phillynews.com 215-854-5184
Residents of a North Philadelphia neighborhood were on edge yesterday after the latest in a series of fires on their block of N. College Avenue since June 24.
On that date, a fire broke out at a property on N. College Avenue near 23rd at 12:30 a.m.
Executive Chief Daniel Williams said that the fire marshal ruled that yesterday's first fire was intentionally set. He declined to comment on the causes of the other fires, citing an ongoing investigation.
The other fires were set on July 28 at 3 p.m. at 2339 N. College; on July 30 at 2:31 p.m. at 2301 N. College; last Wednesday at 1:36 p.m. at 2325 N. College; and yesterday at 12:19 a.m. and 7:59 a.m. at 2339 N. College, fire officials said.
"When the first fire started, we just wrote it off," said Darren Grant, a resident of the block. "No one thought anything of it."
"But now, it's gotten out of hand," Grant said. "It's nerve-racking because you can't sleep at night."
Residents wonder about developers possibly eyeing their block.
"I've gotten letters from as far as California from people asking me if I would consider selling my house," said a woman named Yvonne, who asked that her last name not be used.
Also, residents became suspicious in May when strangers came into the neighborhood, asking residents about who owned certain houses and if they would consider selling them.
"We're not sure, it's just a theory," Yvonne said. "It's just mysterious."
After yesterday's fire, the fire department called the city's Department of Licenses and Inspections to secure any properties on the block that were open to trespassing, according to Williams.
"From time to time we get these types of scenarios where you may have a certain amount of fires on a certain stretch of a block or in a specific geographical area," Williams said.
"The fire marshal keeps an eye on it and when it gets to a point where it needs to be looked at, the arson task force will investigate," Williams said.
"It's very scary because you don't know where it's going to happen next," said Doreen Greenidge, who lives on the block.
"Usually I can just go to bed, but now I have to have one ear up and one ear down," Greenidge said.
Leon McDowell agreed. "Someone's starting these fires," said McDowell, who lives with four young sons next door to one of the affected properties.
"The neighbors are fed up," McDowell said. "We want some answers."
Jerome Murray, College Avenue's block captain, hopes that the case is solved soon and that the fires stop before the neighbors' worst fears come true.
"The ultimate fear is that the whole block will go up," Murray said.
"People's lives are at stake."
olleyc@phillynews.com 215-854-5184
Residents of a North Philadelphia neighborhood were on edge yesterday after the latest in a series of fires on their block of N. College Avenue since June 24.
On that date, a fire broke out at a property on N. College Avenue near 23rd at 12:30 a.m.
Executive Chief Daniel Williams said that the fire marshal ruled that yesterday's first fire was intentionally set. He declined to comment on the causes of the other fires, citing an ongoing investigation.
The other fires were set on July 28 at 3 p.m. at 2339 N. College; on July 30 at 2:31 p.m. at 2301 N. College; last Wednesday at 1:36 p.m. at 2325 N. College; and yesterday at 12:19 a.m. and 7:59 a.m. at 2339 N. College, fire officials said.
"When the first fire started, we just wrote it off," said Darren Grant, a resident of the block. "No one thought anything of it."
"But now, it's gotten out of hand," Grant said. "It's nerve-racking because you can't sleep at night."
Residents wonder about developers possibly eyeing their block.
"I've gotten letters from as far as California from people asking me if I would consider selling my house," said a woman named Yvonne, who asked that her last name not be used.
Also, residents became suspicious in May when strangers came into the neighborhood, asking residents about who owned certain houses and if they would consider selling them.
"We're not sure, it's just a theory," Yvonne said. "It's just mysterious."
After yesterday's fire, the fire department called the city's Department of Licenses and Inspections to secure any properties on the block that were open to trespassing, according to Williams.
"From time to time we get these types of scenarios where you may have a certain amount of fires on a certain stretch of a block or in a specific geographical area," Williams said.
"The fire marshal keeps an eye on it and when it gets to a point where it needs to be looked at, the arson task force will investigate," Williams said.
"It's very scary because you don't know where it's going to happen next," said Doreen Greenidge, who lives on the block.
"Usually I can just go to bed, but now I have to have one ear up and one ear down," Greenidge said.
Leon McDowell agreed. "Someone's starting these fires," said McDowell, who lives with four young sons next door to one of the affected properties.
"The neighbors are fed up," McDowell said. "We want some answers."
Jerome Murray, College Avenue's block captain, hopes that the case is solved soon and that the fires stop before the neighbors' worst fears come true.
"The ultimate fear is that the whole block will go up," Murray said.
"People's lives are at stake."
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Teen fires at police, then flees
By CHRISTINE OLLEYPhiladelphia Daily News
olleyc@phillynews.com 215-854-5184
A teenage boy eluded capture last night after he exchanged gunfire with police in North Philadelphia, police said.
The youth, about 16, was observed "acting suspiciously" by two police officers about 8:20 p.m. near 12th and Huntingdon streets, said Chief Inspector Scott Small.
When officers tried to approach him, he ran off and one officer chased him, Small said.
The suspect stopped in a vacant lot on Hazzard Street near 12th, turned around and pulled out a handgun and fired at least once at the officer, who was not hit, Small said.
"The officer returned fire and the suspect then fled through a rear alley and he escaped police," Small said.
Police were unclear whether the youth was struck but Small said investigators were checking area hospitals.
Investigators recovered the teen's weapon - a .40-caliber Glock semiautomatic - in the lot, police said.
As police searched for the teen hours after the incident, cops were relieved that the officer was not injured.
"We're dealing with suspects out here with guns and some of them won't hesitate to fire them at police like they did in this particular instance," Small said.
"We're very fortunate that the officer did not get struck by gunfire."
olleyc@phillynews.com 215-854-5184
A teenage boy eluded capture last night after he exchanged gunfire with police in North Philadelphia, police said.
The youth, about 16, was observed "acting suspiciously" by two police officers about 8:20 p.m. near 12th and Huntingdon streets, said Chief Inspector Scott Small.
When officers tried to approach him, he ran off and one officer chased him, Small said.
The suspect stopped in a vacant lot on Hazzard Street near 12th, turned around and pulled out a handgun and fired at least once at the officer, who was not hit, Small said.
"The officer returned fire and the suspect then fled through a rear alley and he escaped police," Small said.
Police were unclear whether the youth was struck but Small said investigators were checking area hospitals.
Investigators recovered the teen's weapon - a .40-caliber Glock semiautomatic - in the lot, police said.
As police searched for the teen hours after the incident, cops were relieved that the officer was not injured.
"We're dealing with suspects out here with guns and some of them won't hesitate to fire them at police like they did in this particular instance," Small said.
"We're very fortunate that the officer did not get struck by gunfire."
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