Blue Mountain School District has place a high school teacher on administrative leave following the release of a YouTube video that’s gone viral in the last few days.
“The Blue Mountain School District has been made aware of an incident involving a Blue Mountain High School teacher this is the subject of a recent YouTube video,” Superintendent David Helsel wrote in a letter to parents labeled as “Official Statement” on Tuesday.
The video was posted by Musa M. Harris, who goes by the name Luzerne County Predator Catcher on YouTube. His channel has more than 42,000 subscribers.
Harris’ videos show him confronting people he allegedly baited into meeting him following online conversations in which he portrays himself as a minor.
This is not the first time an alleged Schuylkill County person got caught up in one of Harris’ attempted sting operations. In fact, just a few weeks ago, a Schuylkill County employee was allegedly caught in a similar operation.
Local authorities have asked state officials for help investigating the then-employee. And Schuylkill County Commissioners had granted the employee his retirement from his County job.
A few days after allegations surfaced and potential evidence was collected against that employee, he was found dead in his home. You can read that full report here.
Luzerne County Predator Catcher Allegedly Busts Blue Mountain Teacher in Sex Sting
Blue Mountain has not released the name of the teacher they’re taking action against.
Helsel’s statement continues:
“The incident does not appear to involve any Blue Mountain students. A referral to the Pennsylvania State Police has been made and the teacher has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. The District is not at liberty to make any further comment until the investigation has been completed.”
Harris’ video shows him approaching and entering a pickup truck and confronting a man in the driver side seat.
The exchange between Harris and the apparent Blue Mountain teacher is short-lived with the apparent teacher explaining that he met with Harris to warn him in some way of the dangers of what he was doing.
“I wanted to tell you that that is not what you should be doing,” the man in the driver seat tells Harris on the video.
Here’s the full video:
Subscribe to Coal Region Canary
Get email updates from Coal Region Canary by becoming a subscriber today. Just enter your email address below to get started!Support Coal Region Canary
Like our reporting and want to support truly local news in Schuylkill County? Your small donations help. For as little as $5, your contribution will allow us to cover more news that directly affects you. Consider donating today by hitting the big yellow button below ...
Linda
January 3, 2023 at 2:33 pm
WHOA! The guy with the camera is just as nuts, just in a different way.
Not making excuses for the man in the pickup. Does not matter what his occupation is, just he happened to be a teacher . . . scumbag is a kind word for him.
XYZ
January 4, 2023 at 11:29 pm
It doesn’t matter that he was a teacher?? Are you serious?? This scumbag chose that profession so he could be around young kids. It ABSOLUTELY matters. Parents put their trust in their childrens’ teachers, and this guy is around them all day every day. This occurs in the teaching profession far more often than most of us would like to believe. Usually when they get caught by the district (and not publicly like this guy), these pieces of trash are just fired without the public knowing why. Often times they get employment in another district. School boards don’t want to do what’s right and out these people out of fear of a lawsuit. My comments are neither pro nor anti-teacher. I had to respond since you made a point to mention the occupation, as though you felt the need to defend teachers even though it wasn’t necessary. Turning a blind eye only exacerbates the problem, and our kids deserve better.
Linda H
January 5, 2023 at 7:39 pm
WOW You took what I wrote WAY out of context! I was saying scumbag is TOO KIND OF A WORD no matter what profession. THIS occurs everywhere. A teacher, a priest (ask me I KNOW) an uncle, ASK ME I KNOW, cousins, fathers, step dads, lawyers, judges, truck drivers, you name it, the profession does not mean someone is not a pedophile.
Actually it was a TEACHER who saved me from an UNCLE. So what do you have to say about that??? I am sure you have some rude comeback for me. Go ahead, I have had worse done to me than judgement words. I am waiting!