New details are being revealed about a popular cab driver arrested earlier this year for allegedly moonlighting as a marijuana-dealer.
Leonard Lavender is known by many Villanova students as the opera-singing cab driver. He’s been featured in a youtube video as well as articles in the Philadelphia Inquirer and Philly.com.
“A lot of people use him,” said one student. “Everybody has his phone number.”
Everyone, including the Radnor Police Department who claims Lavender was partaking in another activity aside from driving a cab and singing opera; selling pot to students on campus.
“When we got wind of what he was doing we actually utilized undercover officers that called to get picked up by a taxi cab,” said Radnor Township Police Superintendent William Colarulo. “Mr. Lavender offered to sell one of my officers marijuana.”
Police claim Lavender, who worked for Main Line Taxi, sold pot to undercover officers three times before they arrested him on February 29.
“He had numerous bags of marijuana, $1500 in cash and a scale,” said Colarulo.
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Students were shocked by Lavender’s arrest and the allegations against him.
“I’m surprised,” said one student. “He was always nice from what I hear.”
“Poor Lavender,” said another student. “We’re going to miss his voice.”
Detectives say Lavender is currently out on bail. NBC10 tried to contact him but he didn’t return our phone call. While Main Line Taxi says he no longer drives for them, students say he’s still in the taxi business.
Selling drugs on campus is a major offense and Lavender could end up spending time in jail, according to police. He is scheduled for a pretrial conference next week.
