Peabody pair plead innocent to drug trafficking with baby in car

SALEM – A Peabody couple caught peddling heroin to an undercover officer while the couple?s baby was inside their car remain free on bail following their arraignment Tuesday morning.Luis Canela, 25, of 14 Collins St., #22, and Stephanie Santana, 19, same address, pleaded innocent to trafficking over 14 grams of heroin, trafficking over 28 grams of cocaine, possession of counterfeit notes as well as distribution of heroin before Superior Court judge John T. Lu.The judge agreed to set the same bail amount as previously established in Peabody District Court and continued their case to Sept. 15.In the meantime, Canela remains free on $10,000 cash and Santana is out on $2,000 cash pending the outcome of their case.The charges arise out of a month-long police investigation into drug sales with Peabody and Beverly police officers.Twice in Beverly last May on Margin Street, Canela conducted heroin transactions with an undercover police officer from his Chevy Malibu in which two twists of heroin were exchanged for $80. Police say the couple?s baby was inside the car during the transaction.Police then executed a search warrant for their Collins Street apartment on May 26 and reportedly seized 56 grams of cocaine, worth $5,600, and 16 grams of heroin, valued at $1,600. In addition, $1,000 in counterfeit money was also found with additional cash.Officers involved in their arrest included Peabody detectives Eric Ricci and David P. Murphy and Beverly Det. Richard Garney.A conviction on the heroin as well as the cocaine trafficking charge each carry a minimum mandatory sentence of five years state prison.