Two Philadelphia parents are facing multiple charges after a daycare worker discovered cocaine in their child's lunchbox. The incident occurred at Little Dreams Daycare in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, when an employee found a small clear bag containing white powder while unpacking the child's lunch.
Staff immediately contacted the police, who tested the substance. The results confirmed it was cocaine. Authorities obtained a search warrant for the home of Emily Arter, the child's mother, where they found cocaine, marijuana, cash, suspected drug packaging materials, and other paraphernalia.
Detectives from Carroll Township Police Department stated that Arter, 30, has been known to them for years and that they believe she has been supplying cocaine to most of Dillsburg. The residence housed four small children.
Arter and her boyfriend, Joel Rodriguez Melendez, were arrested. Arter faces four felony counts of child endangerment, one felony conspiracy count, and misdemeanor drug possession and paraphernalia charges. Melendez, 31, was charged with five felony conspiracy counts and misdemeanor drug possession and paraphernalia offenses.
Both were remanded to York County Prison after failing to post $50,000 bail. Their preliminary hearings are scheduled for June 29.
