An Amityville resident who works as a psychologist at a children’s facility in Brooklyn, was arrested June 13 and charged with criminal possession of marijuana and unlawfully dealing with her own two children. Amityville Village Police said the woman, Ellen Keller of 68 Turner Place, had a "grow room" in her house where she was cultivating marijuana plants, as well as equipment and marijuana paraphernalia.

Police were initially called to the home for a domestic dispute and, as a result of an investigation, became suspicious and were prepared to obtain a court-ordered warrant to search the house. Amityville Det. Bruce Pescitelli, said that Keller 39, agreed, however, to allow the police to search the home.

Plants were found in a makeshift grow room in the closet of the master bedroom and seedlings were found being separated and cultivated in the basement. Pescitelli said that Keller told him that the marijuana was for her live-in boy friend who was sick and needed it for medicinal purposes.

Police also found a .22 cal. Derringer hand gun and a 30 Carbine rifle and clips. "There were two children in the home, one four and the other 8 years old, and the weapons and ammunition were in the open and in close proximity to each other," said Pescitelli.

Police began the search at approximately 7:15 p.m., and completed it at approximately 11 p.m. In addition to Keller, her boyfriend, Kenneth Freland 51, was arrested and charged with possession of a weapon, fourth degree.

Keller is represented by Sandra Brooks, a Smithtown attorney. "The real tragedy here is that as a result of her (Keller) arrest this mother is being denied the right to see her childen, and the children are denied the mothering that she so well provided," said Brooks.