Joshua Burnham, 22, of Southwick also faces charges in relation to an alleged morning drug deal in the McDonald's parking lot.
SOUTHWICK — A 39-year-old mother of two was arrested Friday morning and charged with conspiracy to violate the controlled substance act when police observed her allegedly buying cocaine from a man who is now facing a drug distribution charge.
Southwick Police Sgt. Robert D. Landis said Darlene Pereira, of 12 Klaus Anderson Road, who was also charged with possession of a Class D substance and assisting in setting-up a narcotics transaction, and Joshua Burnham, 22, of 50 College Highway, were observed in the parking lot of the McDonald’s restaurant engaged in an illegal drug deal at about 10:30 a.m.
Landis said Pereira was attempting to purchase from Burnham one gram of cocaine with a $60 street value. He added that the Department of Social Services was notified of Pereira’s arrest and that her children, 13 and nine, who were home alone at the time of their mother’s arrest, are now in the care of family members.
Both Pereira and Burnham were being held in the Southwick jail as of late Friday afternoon and were expected to be released on $40 bail each and on personal recognizance to appear Monday morning for arraignment in Westfield District Court.
Landis said police were alerted to the impending drug deal by a confidential informant and “based on the information provided by the source we set up surveillance, and as a result were able to find these two as they were attempting to make a sale.”