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Sandra Yi and Ashley Hayes ReportingWe first told you about the big drug bust made in an eastside Salt Lake City neighborhood yesterday on Eyewitness News Today.
This morning we know one of the men arrested in that bust worked with children at a nearby elementary school-- he's a teacher's aid.
Police say the man was dealing drugs out of his house. That's only a few blocks away from Beacon Heights Elementary School, where he's a popular PE teacher.
Students at Beacon Heights Elementary School know David Zipperer.
Sammy Sanders: "He's coach Dave, and he was a really fun teacher."
Zipperer is a part-time teacher's aid. Hired in August, he teaches physical education there.
Ellen Maxfield, Parent: "I've only spoken with him briefly, but I know the kids liked him."
No one, not even his co-workers, knew Zipperer was a suspected drug dealer, but people in his typically tranquil neighborhood had an idea.
Neighbor: "He was the last person that I would think would be working with kids."
That man didn't want to be identified. He says Zipperer and his roommates had loud parties and lots of visitors.
Neighbor: "There were lots of cars. They'd stop in for two or three minutes, leave the car running and then leave. I saw people carrying packages wrapped in a t-shirt go into the house and then come out without the package."
Acting on a tip, drug agents searched the house Wednesday night and found ecstasy, marijuana, lots of cash, even a shotgun and a semi-automatic rifle.
Lt. Dave Cracroft, Salt Lake City Police Dept.: "They were definitely dealing. They had all sorts of paraphernalia for measuring and distributing narcotics."
Along with Zipperer, police arrested James Oberlin and Rohan Ramesh. Now an eviction notice hangs on the front door, long overdue if you ask neighbors.
Neighbor: "I'm just glad they took that element out of our neighborhood."
But concerned parents have more questions.
Lacey Sanders, Parent: "It's very concerning to me that they haven't even notified parents that he was arrested. We had to find out from other parents."
Ellen Maxfield: "Well, hopefully the kids weren't exposed to it."
Teachers' aids are not licensed, but the Salt Lake City School District says Zipperer passed a background check. A spokesperson says he couldn't make any other comments.
The three suspects could face federal charges for having guns and drugs.
