Parents facing child endangerment charges after daycare worker finds surprising item in their child’s lunchbox

Two Philadelphia parents are facing multiple charges over a discovery made at their child’s daycare. 

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The child was at Little Dreams Daycare in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, when an employee discovered a small clear bag with white powder in the little girl’s lunchbox while she was unpacking the child’s lunch. 

Staff immediately called the police and officers tested the substance. The results came back positive for cocaine. 

A search warrant was granted and after authorities were able to search the home of Emily Arter, the girl’s mother, they reported finding cocaine, marijuana, cash and suspected drug packaging materials, as well as other paraphernalia. 

Carroll Township Police Department detectives said that Arter, 30, is someone they’ve known “for years” and they believe she’s “supplying cocaine to most of Dillsburg.” 

The outlet reported that there were four small children living at the residence. 

Arter, along with her boyfriend, Joel Rodriguez Melendez, were then arrested. 

Arter was charged with four felony counts of child endangerment and one count of felony conspiracy, and misdemeanor drug possession and paraphernalia offenses. 

Police said Melendez, 31, was charged with five felony conspiracy counts and misdemeanor drug possession and paraphernalia offenses. 

Both Arter and Melendez were remanded to York County Prison after failing to post $50,000 bail. They’ll return to court for preliminary hearings later this month on June 29.