Criminal Justice

A 32-year-old Allentown man died Tuesday at a local hospital shortly after he was found unresponsive in his cell at the Lehigh County Jail. The coroner on Wednesday ruled his death a suicide.

The crash occurred Tuesday morning on Hecktown Road in Lower Nazareth Township, after authorities said police observed the Mercedes driver commit a traffic violation.

The owners of an Easton hemp store were charged with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances after a raid on the store found illegal drugs, authorities said.

A motorcycle driver was clocked doing 112 mph during traffic enforcement Monday in one Lehigh Valley community, police said. It was 72 mph over the posted speed limit.

Police charged two men with gun-related crimes in the downtown area. Eight people were hit by gunfire in the first incident, including one who required life-saving surgery, according to charging documents. The second, unrelated incident involved a man who allegedly fired into the ground.

Allentown police responded as two groups shot at each other on North Seventh Street, Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan said. Police also opened fire. Several people were taken to hospitals, according to the district attorney.

Roughly 2.9 million Americans' personal data was leaked this month in a National Public Data security breach. Some of the affected data includes Social Security numbers, mailing addresses and phone numbers.

The Easton-based attorney is accused of threatening an investigator in his driveway, then emailing threats saying if anyone showed up at his house again "they will not live (to) tell about it.”

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."

South Whitehall Township commissioners appointed Capt. Stephen Brown to the position of interim/acting police chief. Outgoing Police Chief Glen Dorney recently tendered his resignation to take a job in the private sector.

Allentown City Council is expected to approve two bills Wednesday to accept funding from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency on behalf of the police department.

Kathryn Murray, a Special Agent with Homeland Security Investigations gave a keynote speech at Hotel Bethlehem on Friday about Human Trafficking.

John Albert Garner, 25, is charged with homicide and aggravated assault, both first-degree felonies, in the death of Alexander Mason Price a week before his 30th birthday in July 2023.

Details about COVID's current impact on the jail is to be discussed at an upcoming committee meeting

Easton Police Chief Carl Scalzo responded to allegations of misconduct by his department in the arrest of Easton Councilwoman Taiba Sultana last year. Scalzo played video of police body camera footage during an Easton City Council meeting Wednesday night.

A “non-specific threatening message” found inside Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts in Bethlehem caused the school to implement lockdown procedures Wednesday, police said.

Christian Joel Gonzalez Santiago, 29, pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter, a first-degree misdemeanor. All remaining charges against Gonzalez Santiago were withdrawn at a hearing before Lehigh County Judge Douglas G. Reichley.

Attorney General Michelle Henry’s office announced Monday they would provide an opportunity for those who purchased a ticket to a Philadelphia comic convention which never materialized to obtain a refund from the Easton company who organized the event.

A Northampton County judge set simple assault charges against Easton City Councilwoman Taiba Sultana on a path to dismissal in a hearing Wednesday. District Attorney Stephen Baratta said her prosecution was influenced by politics.

Lehigh Valley motorists may want to keep their eyes peeled for a new look by Pennsylvania State Police. The metallic gray vehicles with "TROOPER" on the side are being phased out.

Authorities are searching for Allen Jahmell Grimes, 18, after Bethlehem's Emergency Response Team wasn’t successful in its search of his home within the 600 block of Cherokee Street on Wednesday evening.