Upper Darby police arrested a young couple for public drunkenness and drug violations during midnight Mass at the St. Charles Church on Christmas Eve. Police believe they planned to burglarize the church.
Catherine McGrath, 24, and Alexander Pirone, 21, stumbled down the aisle during the church’s religious midnight service, according to police.
Off-duty officer Samuel Sproull happened to be at the service while the duo made their drunken scene.
Sproull searched for the two after the service ended when they didn’t come outside and the priest was locking up the doors to the church.
As he searched inside, he reportedly found Pirone sitting at the bottom of the steps and McGrath in the bathroom. Sproull asked her to come out of the bathroom several times. According to authorities, she was inside flushing drugs down the toilet.
Sproull allegedly found four empty packets normally used for holding drugs, floating in the toilet.
Pirone is a convicted felon on parole for drug dealing, according to authorities. They also say that he had suspected controlled substances hidden in the bottom of a pack of cigarettes.
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Police seized a total of 43 different pills, with a street value of $460 and three packets of heroin from McGrath’s handbag, according to the Delaware County Times.
The Times also reports that the duo was arraigned on charges of violation of the Drug and Cosmetic act for drug possession and public drunkenness.
Pirone was detained in lieu of posting 10 percent of $20,000 bail. Bail was set at 10 percent of $30,000 for McGrath pending a preliminary hearing on Dec. 30.
