Criminal Justice

Bethlehem Police Chief Michelle Kott outlined the potential for a part-time detective to team up with other agencies to address sex trafficking and child exploitation.

The Lehigh County Office of the Public Defender is set to host its fifth “Community Outreach Day” from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in the parking garage at Seventh and Walnut streets.

The juvenile charged appeared Thursday in juvenile court and admitted to the allegations involving the tampering of food products with sewing needles at the Lower Macungie Township Giant supermarket

In February, society members called a news conference to detail what they described as a campaign of threats and harassment by a rogue group of temple members. The 3 accused are part of that group, according to the temple leadership.

Lance Wheeler, an Easton community activist and former Easton City Council candidate, has been charged with harassing three students while driving a Wilson Area School District van in 2022.

Gavin Holihan, the Democratic and Republican nominee for Lehigh County district attorney, said he hopes to find resources to assist underserved families so at-risk kids today don't become victims or defendants a decade from now.

The pleas potentially set the stage for a trial in which Kohberger could face the death penalty.

Unofficial results in Lehigh and Northampton counties suggest voters rallied around candidates for Northampton County Council and Lehigh County district attorney, among others.

The changes, introduced at a county council committee meeting Wednesday, would eliminate some youth care worker positions at the county's juvenile justice center, and create new assistant supervisor roles.

Members of the Allentown Police Department gathered Wednesday to celebrate lifesaving efforts and actions of merit and heroism. The idea was to recognize those law enforcement officers who went above and beyond their call of duty.

Jonathan A. Richards, 41, of Shillington, had a blood-alcohol level of 0.24% at the time of the crash — three times the legal limit, authorities said.

Political observers in the Lehigh Valley said the new criminal charges against former President Donald Trump won't be enough to shake up the 2024 presidential race. Despite two impeachments and multiple federal charges, the 45th president still dominates the Republican Party.

Thong Pham hit his head in September 2019 after he was punched at an Allentown bar, authorities said. He never regained consciousness and died in 2021.

The Allentown Police Department can now enter a formal contract to work with Pinebrook Family Answers' “community intervention specialists.”

The rehab program, if completed succesfully by the accused person, could result in their charges being reduced or dropped before they even make it to court.

Several top Allentown police officials have declined to answer whether they are following the department’s use-of-force policy.

Easton City Councilmember Taiba Sultana was arrested by the Easton Police Department Monday afternoon for a charge of simple assault and harassment for allegedly attacking her son, according to court records.

The Allentown Police Department said it expects to get $1.5 million by next year to fund its purchase of new technology to solve crimes. Some residents are urging city officials to invest in prevention measures, too.

Take a look at stories that ran throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact on readers or that you might want to look at again.

Allentown police shot and killed 27-year-old Dominick Hogans on Monday. It was the third time police opened fire in the city this year.

Officers shot and killed a 27-year-old Allentown man after he shot at them early Monday morning, according to Assistant Chief Michael Becker.

Police are warning folks not to deposit mail in the dropbox outside the Palmer branch of the Easton Post Office. They say several checks have been stolen from the mail.