Couple charged after heroin and crack cocaine found in car with unrestrained children in North Huntingdon
NORTH HUNTINGDON, PA — A traffic stop on Route 30 turned into a felony child endangerment case after police discovered heroin, crack cocaine, and two unrestrained children inside a vehicle driven by a couple from Ruffs Dale.
Gregory Carvallis, 34, and Chelsey Palko, 35, are facing multiple felony charges including endangering the welfare of children, recklessly endangering another person, and drug possession. The charges stem from a December 3 incident during which North Huntingdon police observed a vehicle committing multiple traffic violations in wintry road conditions.
According to investigators, the vehicle was changing lanes without signaling and following other cars too closely when officers initiated a stop. As police approached the car, they saw a young child standing and walking unrestrained across the backseat.
Police identified Carvallis as the driver and Palko as the passenger. Inside the vehicle was a 7-year-old child, also unrestrained and not wearing a seatbelt. Both adults reportedly gave conflicting accounts of their activities, but officers later determined the couple had driven to North Versailles to purchase a brick of heroin.
An initial search of the car revealed an empty heroin stamp bag on the passenger side floor. Palko was also found to be carrying crack cocaine on her body while being detained.
While officers continued their search, Carvallis informed police that a second child was inside the vehicle. A two-year-old was found asleep on the floorboard in the back, unrestrained and not in a car seat.
In total, police recovered one full brick of heroin, numerous empty stamp bags, and approximately 11 grams of crack cocaine from the vehicle.
Both Carvallis and Palko were arrested at the scene. The children were safely released into the care of a relative. Following arraignment, the pair was remanded to jail after failing to post $150,000 bail.
The case remains active. All charges are accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Key Points
- Gregory Carvallis and Chelsey Palko were arrested after police found drugs and unrestrained children in their vehicle
- A 7-year-old and a 2-year-old were located inside the car, neither secured by a seatbelt or car seat
- Officers recovered heroin, crack cocaine, and multiple stamp bags during the traffic stop