Students at Brookline technology school arrested on drug charges

Three students from Dean Institute of Technology in Brookline were arrested Thursday afternoon by narcotics officers who learned they would leave school during class breaks to sell drugs, a spokesman for Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. said.

Dustin C. Ulrich, 24, of Penn Hills; Laron E. Powell, 26, of West Homestead, and Blane Curt Jefferson Jr., 25, of Braddock, were arrested during an undercover buy in Swissvale by members of the District Attorney's Narcotics Enforcement Team, said Zappala spokesman Mike Manko. They are accused of selling 20 stamp bags of heroin to an informant for $160, Manko said.

Ulrich is on house arrest for a previous conviction and was permitted out of his house from 6 a.m. until 2 p.m. weekdays to go to class, Manko said.

James S. Dean, director of the school commonly known as Dean Tech, said he was unaware of the arrests.

“We have observed no illegal activity of any sort on school property,” Dean said. He said school officials “intend to cooperate fully with legal authorities” to ensure the safety of staff and students.

Michael Hasch is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7820 or mhasch@tribweb.com