Operator Of Homewood Daycare Held For Trial
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The operator of a Homewood daycare center that was shut down earlier this year after police found drugs and money inside has been held for trial.
Reanell Booker, 51, had a preliminary hearing this morning in city court.
According to Pittsburgh police, Booker ran R&B Childcare Services on Rosedale Street in Homewood. She was arrested there back on Feb 25.
Pittsburgh police say they raided the facility, finding drugs and money.
"We have an innocent woman who is the victim of circumstance; she's very upset about it," said Wendy Williams, the defense attorney.
Testifying at Booker's preliminary hearing today, Pittsburgh police narcotics detectives told the court that they found crack cocaine, digital scales often used in drug dealing as well as crack hidden in shoes and bottles.
Police say they also found $6,000 in cash, much of it in various business envelopes in Booker's office.
"It's our understanding that there are at least five to six keys to the office and that numerous people that worked at the daycare had access to the office. Any number of those people could have hidden the drugs in the office," added Williams. "A lot of the people who use this daycare get subsidy checks and money returned to them from the state, and that is what the money was."
Booker remains free on bond and the once popular child care facility is now shuttered.
"There certainly is not enough evidence to show that Ms. Booker possessed the drugs herself or that she was selling them either somewhere else or out of the daycare," said Williams.
R&B Childcare Services remains closed as the state has suspended their operating license pending the outcome of this case. No trial date has been set.
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