Priest Arrested for Cocaine Possession
Reverend placed on leave after arrest
Philadelphia Police
James Shimsky, 49, was arrested on Jan. 30 for allegedly being possession of cocaine. He is a Roman Catholic priest with the Diocese of Scranton.
A Scranton priest was placed on leave after being arrested in Philadelphia for allegedly buying cocaine.
Rev. James Shimsky, a Roman Catholic priest with the Diocese of Scranton, was charged with possession of cocaine back on January 30.
Narcotics officers were conducting surveillance around the 3300 block of N. 5th Street when they witnessed a man driving a silver Jeep Liberty engage in a drug transaction, police said.
Shimsky, 49, turned out to be that driver, police said.
At the time of his arrest, authorities say they did not know he was a priest. The priest was placed on leave the next day, Scranton diocese spokesman Bill Ganello said.
He served at St. John Vianney Parish in Scott Township since 2001, Ganello confirmed.
Currently, he remains listed as a pastor on the diocese's online directory.
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