Drug Abuse Counselor Accused of Selling Heroin

A drug abuse counselor was arrested last week after investigators said they caught him selling heroin in Scott Township and Carnegie.

Vincent Scott, 44, of Ross Township, was charged on April 1 with numerous drug crimes after and the district attorney’s drug task force said they witnessed him selling heroin multiple times last week.

Before his arrest, Scott had worked as a counselor with the Peer Support and Advocacy Network in Pittsburgh, which helps addicts and people with mental health issues. Scott Township police Sgt. Jeff Skees said he was driving a Peer Support-owned vehicle while selling the heroin and admitted to being “embarrassed” by the arrest.

“It’s absolutely unbelievable,” Skees said. “He’s a phony. He’s a fake.”

The arrested prompted Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala Jr. to instruct the county controller to conduct a performance audit on the peer support group. Officials at the Peer Support and Advocacy Network could not be reached for comment.

Skees said workers there could not believe Scott had been arrested for allegedly selling bricks of heroin.

“Apparently he’s not using now, just preying on addicts,” Skees said. “To be honest, I think he’s the lowest of the low.”

Scott is free on bond and will appear before District Judge Gary Zyra on April 28 for his preliminary hearing on the drug charges.