An Evans City woman waived her right to a preliminary hearing Monday in a case accusing her of possessing more than a brick of heroin in July.

Appearing in person, Rachel M. Rausch, 41, waived the hearing for felony drug sales and misdemeanor drug possession charges.

According to charging documents, Rausch was spotted using the vehicle of a man who was in jail. Butler County Drug Task Force Detectives said they had also spotted two other women with outstanding warrants who had been using the vehicle days before Rausch, so they decided to follow the vehicle.

Detectives said the rear window of the SUV had been shattered, and a traffic stop was made for that reason. According to detectives, Rausch then gave permission for the vehicle to be searched.

“Rausch took hold of a small child that was seated in the rear of the vehicle,” said detectives in the affidavit.

Detectives said they initially saw 17 stamp bags hidden underneath Rausch's ID.

“I showed her the 17 stamp bags near her ID card, and she advised me that she was 'holding' those for someone else,” detectives said.

Rausch was subsequently arrested. A passenger in the vehicle, Hannah Steighner, 25, of Butler, was also arrested, after she claimed ownership of one stamp bag in her phone case. She was charged solely with misdemeanor drug possession, and on Nov. 10 she pleaded guilty to one count of drug possession.

Detectives said after finding the initial drugs, they impounded the vehicle while waiting for a warrant to more thoroughly search it.

According to detectives, they found 79 full stamp bags of heroin and $388, all of which was attributed to Rausch.

Following her arraignment, Rausch was released on her own recognizance, and she has since received new charges outside of the city.

Evans City-Seven Fields Regional Police on Dec. 9 filed one charge of misdemeanor drug possession, related to a Dec. 5 incident at Rausch's apartment.

Police said they received a noise complaint about a child crying and a loud banging sound.

“Rachel Rausch stated she was just tired and the pounding noise had been from her trying to repair a toilet,” police said. “The child appeared to be dirty and disheveled, and Rachel Rausch appeared to be under the influence of a narcotic.”

Police said when they went to arrest Rausch, she initially refused to put the child down.

Children and Youth Services was called to pick up the child, who does not belong to Rausch. Police said Rausch told officers that she was watching the child for someone else.

The child from the Evans City incident was not the same child who was involved in her other case. Neither child was Rausch's. Police said Rausch offered to call the child's father, if officers could get her phone from her purse. Police said she gave them permission to do so.

“When the purse was opened to retrieve the phone, stamp bags containing suspected heroin were discovered and retrieved by an officer,” police said.

Police said the 10 stamp bags later tested positive for fentanyl.

For the Butler City case, Rausch is scheduled to appear Feb. 15 for formal arraignment. For the Evans City case, she has a preliminary hearing scheduled Jan. 4.