Cops: Teacher did crack
By Norman Miller/ Daily News Staff
Friday, September 1, 2006 - Updated: 06:00 AM EST

HUDSON -- Hours after greeting students on the opening day of school, a longtime Forest Avenue elementary school teacher was smoking crack with the two people targeted in a drug investigation, police said. 

Diane Soule, 55, a fifth-grade teacher at the school, was arrested with three other people -- all alleged drug dealers -- at a Pope Street home Wednesday, according to court records.

Police were investigating Jeremy J. Ryder, 27, and Diane P. Smith, 46, both of 23 Pope St., when they served the warrant shortly before 8 p.m., prosecutor Jennifer Snook said yesterday at the quartet’s Marlborough District Court arraignment.

Also arrested was Elmis Giron, 28, of Clinton.  When police went in, Ryder, Smith and Soule were smoking crack, and authorities also recovered powder cocaine, Police Chief Richard Braga said.

Investigators were expecting to find Ryder and Smith, but not Soule, Braga said.  "That was certainly a surprise," the chief said.

Yesterday, after her arraignment, Soule rushed from the courthouse without speaking to a reporter from the Daily News.

On Wednesday, police had obtained a search warrant for 23 Pope St., Snook said. Investigators staked out the house before the search and saw Giron deliver what police believe was cocaine to Ryder and Smith, Snook said.

In an affidavit filed in court, Sgt. Christopher Shea said police had information that Ryder and Smith were supposed to be "resupplied with a delivery of cocaine."

After the delivery, Giron was stopped in his vehicle. He denied he sold any drugs, but police found packages of cocaine as well as cash and a cell phone hidden in the vehicle. The last number dialed on the phone was to Smith, the affidavit said.

When police searched, they found powdered cocaine, cash, drug sale records, "numerous" crack pipes, drug packaging supplies, scales and other drug paraphernalia, Shea wrote in his report.

All four were charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of cocaine.

Giron, of 68 Park St., was also charged with the unlicensed operation of a vehicle.

Snook did not seek bail on Soule, but sought $2,500 bail each for Ryder and Giron, and $1,000 for Smith.

She said Ryder has 22 convictions on his record for several drug offenses and violent crimes, while Smith has three convictions.

Snook said she was seeking high bail on Giron, despite him not having a record, because he appeared to be an illegal immigrant from Guatemala.

Judge Douglas Stoddart set bail at $1,800 for both Giron and Ryder, and $500 for Smith, who was released on bail.

He also questioned Bridgett Bradley, the lawyer appointed to represent Giron, and was hired by Soule to be her attorney. She said although the charges stem from the same incident, they are not "related by facts," she said.

"Well, you’re alone on the ethics of that," Stoddart said.

All four are due back in court Oct. 3 for pretrial conferences.

(Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or at nmiller@cnc.com)
 

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