Criminal Justice

Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro’s nominees for attorney general and state police commissioner received unanimous approval from the Pennsylvania’s Republican-controlled Senate.

Lehigh Valley Health Network was victimized in a cybersecurity attack last month. The network said it refused to pay a ransom. Now, patient information and photos have been posted on the dark web, according to LVHN.

The force, made up of municipal, county and federal investigators, is designed to fight the sexual exploitation of children in the county, along with human trafficking more broadly.

Marc Muffley was arrested at his home in Lansford, Carbon County, on Monday night. A hearing is set for Thursday afternoon in federal court in Allentown on charges that include possessing an explosive device at an airport.

On Thursday, Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin declared that a city police officer was justified in fatally shooting an armed man during a foot chase last month.

The FBI said Marc Muffley, 40, of Lansford, Carbon County, left the airport Monday after checking a bag that was to be loaded on an Allegiant flight from Allentown to Sanford, Fla.

Law enforcement officials seized dark clothing, medical gloves, a flashlight and other items from a Pennsylvania home where they arrested a graduate student charged with stabbing four University of Idaho students to death. That is according to newly unsealed court documents.

20-year-old Ceu Uk, of Charlotte, allegedly threatened a shooting in the Saucon Valley School District in response to an after-school Satan club being allowed to meet on district property.

Law enforcement authorities describe turmoil within the Sikh congregation as a civil matter, preventing them from stopping people from entering the Nazareth-area building. Members of the Guru Nanak Sikh Society of Lehigh Valley say the are concerned for their safety.

Federal, state and local law enforcement officials announced Wednesday they had dismantled a gun trafficking organization that bought firearms across Pennsylvania and illegally sold them throughout the Southeastern region of the state.

Another joint enforcement between the Pennsylvania State Police and the Allentown Police Department — in the same location as other previous details on American Parkway — netted nearly as many offenders this week.

Newly appointed Hellertown Police Chief James Baitinger pledged to "work tirelessly and make a positive difference in the lives of people we serve and the lives of our police officers."

Lehigh County Commissioners in recent meetings discussed the need for action related to a dearth of beds for the county's detained juveniles.

Ethan Bastien, 22, should be released from Lehigh County Jail on Thursday, according to the District Attorney's Office.

Allegations include Vice detectives having relationships with prostitutes, stealing money during searches and interfering with local and federal investigations.

Authorities announced the arrest of a 55-year-old Whitehall man Saturday. The attack happened about 6:05 p.m. in the 1300 block of North 14th Street in Whitehall Township, authorities said.

An Easton woman has been arrested and charged with animal cruelty related to a shooting incident in Bethlehem, the Northampton County District Attorney’s Office announced Friday.

The Northampton County District Attorney’s Office on Wednesday announced the arrest of Matthew Torres in connection with a fatal crash on Stefko Boulevard in Bethlehem.

The Lehigh County Coroner’s Office said Richard A. Costello, 65, was found dead at 9:37 a.m. at his home on Friday, Aug. 2. The cause of death was a gunshot wound to the stomach.

A Hellertown man was arrested Saturday after police say he stabbed his roommate multiple times. William Vera was charged with attempted homicide and aggravated assault.

A stabbing was reported around 3:15 a.m. Saturday on East Thomas Avenue, according to Hellertown police.

Evander Thompson, 30, is accused of fatally shooting Orlando Ibanez the morning of Sept. 23 at an apartment in the 500 block of West Allen Street.