RSS | 
Twitter
| 
Be a fan!
Burglary, drug claims sideline bus driver
A Canonsburg woman facing burglary charges told police she was battling a severe drug problem less than six months before she was hired as a school bus driver.
Liza T. Natale drove buses in Avella Area School District during the start of this school year after GG&C Bus Co., the transportation company contracted by the district, hired her in June.
Rate This Story:
1 the lowest - 5 the highest
Current rating:
South Strabane Township police charged her Sept. 12 with burglary, theft and conspiracy, along with one count of criminal mischief. Natale and 30-year-old William Africa III, also of Canonsburg, are accused of breaking into Washington Delta Pump and Systems in South Strabane on two nights in November. Police waited more than 10 months to press charges because they were searching for Africa.
Police said Africa stole $200 during the first break-in, and according to the police affidavit supporting her arrest, Natale told police "the sole intention was to steal money so both she and Africa could go out and buy crack cocaine. Natale stressed she and Africa possess a bad crack cocaine addiction."
Karen Nicholas, safety manager for GG&C, said Natale passed a drug test and was subjected to a criminal background check, child abuse history check and FBI fingerprinting in accordance with state and federal government standards. Because the charges against Natale were not brought until last week, the company found no blemishes on her criminal record. She was not tested again while employed.
Avella school officials could not be reached for comment.
South Strabane police Detective John Bruner said there is no indication that Natale was using drugs over the past nine months. But Dr. Neil Capretto, medical director of Gateway Rehabilitation Center in Greensburg, said drug testing might not expose users because traces of cocaine do not linger in their system.
"For most people, within a couple days it's gone. It's not going to stay in there longer than a week," Capretto said. "The best scenario is she got help and is doing well. But some people, when they know they're being tested, will stop using for a few days before."
He said a crack addiction is difficult to overcome, and many users need to attend rehabilitation to become clean.
Natale became a suspect in the burglaries in December and cooperated with police during their investigation. She contacted Bruner twice each month while authorities searched for Africa, who was found in northeastern Pennsylvania and brought back to Washington County.
Bruner did not know she was working for GG&C until her arraignment last week.
"She kind of cleaned herself up," Bruner said. "But she knew D-Day was coming when we picked up (Africa)."
