Police: West Deer woman faces felony charge after cocaine found in 9-month-old's urine

A West Deer woman was arrested after telling police a 9-month-old child in her care likely tested positive for cocaine because she had some of the drug on her hands while preparing the baby’s bottle, police said.

Brittney Michele Pebler, 33, of the 200 block of Pollock Street was charged with a felony count of endangering the welfare of children in connection with the Feb. 25 incident.

She was charged by summons and ordered to appear for a preliminary hearing before District Judge Tom Swan on April 19, according to court records.

Police wrote in a criminal complaint that officers were contacted by a caseworker from Allegheny County’s Office of Children, Youth and Families to participate in an interview with Pebler and her husband about the incident.

While being questioned, Pebler said she uses cocaine “recreationally” about once a month and admitted to taking it Feb. 25, when paramedics were called to the house to treat the child, the complaint said.

A police officer who responded to the scene that night told investigators the baby was “puking and sick” when transported to a hospital for treatment.

Police got a warrant to view the child’s medical records from UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and learned that a urinalysis revealed cocaine and cocaine metabolites in the baby’s system, according to the complaint.

Metabolites are formed when substances begin to break down in the body.

Pebler’s husband told police he was aware his wife sometimes used cocaine and said it was a source of arguments between them, the complaint said.

He said he did not know where she got the drugs, police said. Pebler declined to tell investigators where the drugs came from except to say it was not from somebody local, the complaint said.