Criminal Justice

Reporting an increase in violent incidents in the state's prisons in 2022, the Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association has suggested that staffing needs to increase, and policies need to be reviewed to help make the prisons safer.

At a press conference Thursday, DA candidate Stephen Baratta criticized incumbent district attorney Terry Houck over three cases from his tenure. Houck hit back in response.

Court officials from Northampton County first asked for help getting more staff over a year ago. Since November, the center netted no new full-time hires.

Two 15-year-old girls were removed from Northampton Area High School and will be charged after several threats of violence were made against the school.

A motorcade of 40 dirt bikes and ATVs ignored traffic laws and endangered others last year. They also delayed an injured Allentown detective from getting medical treatment. Only one driver, a Pen Argyl man, has been identified and charged.

Allentown police are investigating a homicide after a 38-year-old Allentown man died days after he was assaulted, according to the Lehigh County coroner.

It happened a little before 7 p.m. Wednesday at Easton Avenue and Beech Street in Bethlehem.

Clement Swaby was sentenced to up to 150 years in prison in the 2020 rape of a Lehigh University student, plus subsequent break-ins and attempted sexual assaults in Easton.

Lehigh County Judge Thomas Capehart denied the appeal of Patrick Palmer, who argued election staff should accept his paperwork because he paid a filing fee on time.

Patrick Palmer, an Allentown School Board director, argued in Lehigh County Court he should not be denied a spot on the primary ballot. County officials ruled he missed the March 7 filing deadline by a matter of seconds.

After nearly two months of investigation, authorities have declared a fire which struck the former Dixie Cup factory was arson.

A resident told police he saw a man fire a gun around 10 a.m. Monday in the 200 block of Spruce Street, where Harrison-Morton Middle School serves hundreds of students.

Johansy Suarez-Rivas died from fentanyl toxicity April 5, 2024, hours after his parents used heroin, authorities said.

All 135 residents of the building have been relocated to temporary housing at hotels arranged by the 510 Flats apartment management team, fire officials said.

Two city residents have been charged in connection with a human trafficking investigation following a multi-agency law enforcement operation at Wind Creek Casino.

A 33-year-old woman testified for several hours Tuesday about her interactions with Evan Weaver and Jason Krasley, who worked together on the Allentown Police Department’s Vice and Intelligence Unit from 2011 to 2015.

Unless Francis Anonia and Lehigh County prosecutors can reach a plea deal in the coming weeks, Anonia's trial for allegedly recording an underage student without his consent will begin in September.

Alberto Jose Rios-Santiago, 26, of Deltona, Florida, had a preliminary hearing Friday before District Judge Rashid Santiago.

The two-day training and enforcement program hosted by Troop M Bethlehem combined classroom instruction workshops on DUI case law and roving DUI patrols.

Wilson borough solicitor and private attorney Stanley Margle III waived a preliminary hearing on drug possession charges Thursday, April 24.

Costas Alestas, 44, of Palmer Township, entered the plea before Northampton County Judge Samuel P. Murray. He admitted guilt to charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and invasion of privacy, according to the Northampton County District Attorney's Office.

The U.S. Center for SafeSport fired Chief Executive Officer Ju'Riese Colón, Tuesday. The move comes after the company faced scrutiny for employing former Allentown Vice Unit officer Jason Krasely, who has been charged with rape, theft, sex trafficking and other crimes.