New Questions Surrounding Roethlisberger's Security

Channel 11 uncovered new questions Monday on the security surrounding Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Channel 11 News reporter Alan Jennings learned that the police officer who made the trip to Georgia with Roethlisberger also helped put up an 8-foot security fence at the quarterback's home.

Roethlisberger is accused of sexually assaulting a 20-year-old college student during his recent trip to the town of Milledgeville, although Roethlisberger's attorney has denied that the alleged assault took place.

Roethlisberger constructed the security fence around the back of his home without getting formal approval, according to Jennings.

His lawyers signed a letter, obtained by Channel 11, acknowledging that if he didn't get approval, he'd have to tear it down.

Despite a neighbor's objection, the fence, which is 2-feet above Hampton Township's code, was approved.

On another form obtained by Channel 11 and signed by Roethlisberger, he asks the zoning board to OK the fence.

The form says, "Because of recent media and public knowledge of my new contract and monetary value of the contract, it is for my safety."

To bolster his efforts, Roethlisberger sent longtime friend and publicly perceived bodyguard, Anthony Barravecchio, to a June 2008 zoning board hearing.

On an audio recording obtained by Channel 11 from the hearing, Barravecchio identifies himself as an undercover narcotics agent for the DEA. Barravecchio is, however, a full-time Coraopolis police officer occasionally assigned to the DEA task force.

Barravecchio told the board that intruders on Roethlisberger's property were captured on security cameras that he monitors.

Jennings talked to Hampton Police Chief Dan Connolly. Connolly said his officers have never been called to Roethlisberger's home, except for a few false alarms, where an occupant accidentally set the system off.

"None have been reported to the police to my knowledge. We have none in our records system since Mr. Roethlisberger's been a resident," Connolly said.

A millionaire neighbor who lives behind Roethlisberger told the zoning board the 8-foot fence is only 61-feet from his backyard. He said it's unsightly and could impact resale value and asked for the fence variance to be denied. He also told the board he's never seen any intruders on his property or the property of his famous neighbor. He said it's a quiet, uneventful neighborhood.

Hampton Township's code doesn't acknowledge security as a reason good enough for an 8-foot fence.

Jennings called to try and receive an explanation but none of the five zoning board members returned his calls.

Previous Stories: March 12, 2010: WPXI Scopes Out Club Where Alleged Roethlisberger Assault Occurred March 12, 2010: Ga. Police Posed With Roethlisberger Before Alleged Assault March 12, 2010: NFL.com: Steelers' Roethlisberger On Rocky Ground With Rooneys March 12, 2010: Exclusive: Rick Earle Interviews Lead Investigator In Roethlisberger Case March 12, 2010: Attorney For Off-Duty Officer With Roethlisberger Talks To WPXI March 11, 2010: Maker Of 'Big Ben's Beef Jerky' Concerned About Allegations March 10, 2010: Roethlisberger’s Accuser To Return To Ga. College March 9, 2010: Roethlisberger Accuser Drops Out Of College, TMZ Reports March 8, 2010: Roethlisberger's Attorney: 'No Sexual Assault Occurred' March 8, 2010: Investigation Continues After Roethlisberger Accused Of Sex Assault

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