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Firefighter To Face Preliminary Hearing Monday

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Jul 20, 2009 8:23 am US/Eastern

Firefighter To Face Preliminary Hearing Monday

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― A Pittsburgh firefighter will face a preliminary hearing Monday morning after he was caught selling drugs on duty inside a firehouse last week.

Vincent Manzella's preliminary hearing is scheduled for 8 a.m. Monday.

Public Safety Director Michael Huss says he confronted Manzella at work and ordered him to rehab. Manzella complied and once he is out of rehab he will be arrested and charged.

As for how the department will handle this issue, Huss would not get into specifics, but said he would like to see random drug testing in the department. He would also like to see stricter enforcement of the internal boards that allow employees to return to work under similar circumstances.

The incident happened at Engine Company 28 in Beechview late Thursday night.

The alleged drug transaction was witnessed by a lieutenant who took immediate action by calling police and taking the firefighter for a drug test.

This is the fifth firefighter-related drug incident in two months and the second in two weeks.

Manzella, 31, called in false alarms to a fire station and burglarized it while firefighters were out on the calls.

He resigned Friday after going into rehab.

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