Drug Bust in Bridgeville Nets Gun, Cash

Bridgeville police seized marijuana, drug paraphernalia, a gun and $800 cash from a borough home after checking on the welfare of two young children whose mother apparently left them alone.

Bridgeville police Chief Chad King said officers arrived at the house at 169 Union St., shortly before 8 a.m. Friday to check on the children ages 5 and 8 after they said they couldn’t find their mother.

When police came into the house, they said they found a large baggie of marijuana, a digital scale, a 40-caliber handgun with the serial numbers removed and $800 cash.

Police said they found 21-year-old Shelby Casper sleeping in her bedroom on the third floor. She faces charges of firearms possession, altering a firearm, marijuana possession with intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia and endangering the welfare of children. She was on probation, police said, and taken to Allegheny County Jail for arraignment.

The mother, Christie Apitsch, 28, was charged with two counts of child endangerment. The children are now in the care of their grandmother and Children Youth and Family are investigating the matter, police said.

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