Two parents in Philadelphia are facing multiple charges after cocaine was allegedly discovered in their young daughter’s lunchbox at daycare.
The incident occurred at Little Dreams Daycare in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, where an employee reportedly found a small clear bag containing a white powdery substance while unpacking the child’s lunch.
Daycare staff immediately contacted the police, and officers who tested the substance confirmed it was cocaine.
Following the discovery, authorities obtained a search warrant and searched the home of the child’s mother, Emily Arter. During the search, police allegedly recovered cocaine, marijuana, cash, suspected drug-packaging materials, and other drug-related paraphernalia.
According to detectives with the Carroll Township Police Department, Arter, 30, is known to law enforcement and is believed to have been supplying cocaine within the Dillsburg area.
Authorities also reported that four young children were living at the residence.
Arter and her boyfriend, Joel Rodriguez Melendez, were subsequently arrested.
Arter was charged with four felony counts of child endangerment, one felony count of conspiracy, and misdemeanor counts related to drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Melendez, 31, was charged with five felony counts of conspiracy, along with misdemeanor drug possession and paraphernalia offenses.
Both suspects were remanded to York County Prison after failing to post $50,000 bail. They are scheduled to return to court for preliminary hearings on June 29.
