Criminal Justice

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.

Council members Ce-Ce Gerlach and Ed Zucal are sponsoring a bill to remove imprisonment as a potential consequence for breaking some city ordinances.

The Northampton County District Attorney's Office says charges have been filed in juvenile court against a girl in relation to bomb threats made in Saucon Valley School District this week.

Eric Gratz, 42, of Alburtis, in a hearing before Judge Anna-Kristie M. Marks pleaded guilty to two counts of solicitation to commit prostitution, a third-degree misdemeanor

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.