District Attorney Joe Carroll is moving to Coatesville and today purchased a house on North Eighth Avenue, the center of the city's illegal drug trade and the site of several shootings, the ChesterCountyReporter has learned.

Carroll reportedly paid $35,000 for the house which needs extensive repairs. He reportedly plans to live in the house while doing the rehab work himself. Carroll's decision to purchase a house in Coatesville was months in the making.

"He is serious about this. This is not grandstanding. He will move into the city," said a person close to Carroll who requested anonymity.

Until today Carroll's actions were shrouded in secrecy; reportedly, neither City Manager Harry Walker nor Police Chief William Matthews were made aware of Carroll's intentions.

Carroll has been highly critical of Matthew's failure to obtain basic police certification required of all police officers in Pennsylvania. When Matthew was hired his contract stipulated he was to obtain police certification, commonly referred to as Act 120 training, within six months. Matthews instead claimed an undisclosed medical condition prevented him from taking the physical part of Act 120 training. Last month a divided council agreed to a one-year extension to Matthews contract to allow him time to recover.

Speaking at a public council meeting in November, Carroll questioned Matthews' ability to lead. "It isn't that the chief lacks arrests powers. He doesn't have the background in Pennsylvania law to evaluate cases and evaluate how officers are doing," Carroll said then.

Carroll's decision to purchase a home and move into Coatesville makes him unique. While both Walker and Matthews live in the city, neither have purchased homes here. Also, none of the city's other top officials reside inside the city.

Carroll will be moving into the city at a time residents have complained that crime is out of control. On Sunday a young couple were shot dead while inside their Charles Street home. Also, members of the city's Latino community have come forward and said they are being singled out by street thugs.