Feb 14, 2014 2 min read

An Allegheny County couple was charged Thursday with endangering the welfare of children after they allegedly left two children in a North Strabane Township home while they went out to purchase drugs.

The charges against Richard Alexander Davis, 38, and Breanne L. Dean, 25, both of McKees Rocks, were filed at the office of District Judge Jay Weller.

Township police, Washington County Adult probation officers and a federal drug agent went to a home at 175 Boone Ave. on Sept. 25 to execute an arrest warrant on Adam Snatchko.

Some officers secured the outer perimeter of the house while other officers went to the front door and apprehended Snatchko without incident. As he was leaving the house, Snatchko reportedly told police that the resident, Thresa Mattes, had a gun inside the house.

North Strabane police Officer Jonathan Miles was standing outside the house when he saw two boys, a 13-month-old and 3-year-old, standing alone inside the home. Miles and North Strabane Sgt. Keith Hutter removed the children from the house and took them into protective custody.

Police then conducted a sweep of the home, looking for other fugitives and occupants. They said Mattes and her live-in boyfriend were found hiding in a bedroom.

The two told police they were not responsible for the care of the two children and did not realize that Davis and Dean had left them there. A Washington County Children and Youth Services representative responded to the home and took custody of the children for placement.

Dean and Davis were returning to the home when they were stopped by police. Police said Davis had drugs on him and Dean had a large amount of cash. The two allegedly told authorities that they had left the home about an hour earlier to purchase drugs.

A preliminary hearing will be scheduled before Weller.