Criminal Justice

Michael "Mikey" Racciato's father recounted the events leading up to his son's death in December 2020, including multiple overdoses, visits to rehab facilities and eventually discovering his son dead from a fentanyl overdose.

Northampton County's district attorney's office is touting $168,000 in drug money that law enforcement has confiscated.

The trial of Christopher Ferrante, charged in connection with the overdose death of Michael Racciato, began Monday. The case attracted scrutiny during the race for Northampton County District Attorney earlier this year.

Lawyers for Christopher Ferrante, charged with drug delivery resulting in death, told the court Monday he conducted at least two undercover drug buys for Allentown police.

The Salisbury Township Police Department is using humor on Facebook to foster connections and bridge a gap to reach people of all ages across the township and beyond. But there's a purpose to their punchlines, and the attention they've garnered seems to be working.

Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk said during the holiday that there were "consequences coming" to violators, but Allentown police say there was just a single citation related to fireworks during the holiday.

An altercation between groups of people at a Taco Bell and Autozone in Allentown led to gunfire and one death. One man has been deemed not criminally responsible, and another has been charged with attempted homicide.

Police say a gunman in a bulletproof vest has opened fire on the streets of Philadelphia, killing five people and wounding two boys before he surrendered to responding officers. The shootings took place over several city blocks, and dozens of spent shell casings were found.

The notice was offered to affected individuals about a cybersecurity attack by a ransomware gang known as BlackCat and associated with Russia. The incident occurred in January and was later found in February.

Officials and residents of several New Jersey shore towns say the state’s law decriminalizing marijuana use is having an unintended effect: emboldening large groups of teenagers to run amok on beaches and boardwalks, knowing there is little chance of them getting in trouble for it.

Two women filed protection-from-abuse complaints against Moore Township Police Office Johnathan Miklich. The women claim he has been abusive, attempted to hire someone to kidnap and beat one of them and tried to enter a home where they were meeting with an attorney when he was supposed to be on duty.

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

A juvenile suspect has been charged with misdemeanor counts as a result of a state police investigation of sewing needles in food at the Giant.

The four men, ages 21-22, shouted racial slurs at the victim before following him home and attacking him, according to investigators.

Charges against Christopher Ferrante can head to trial in Northampton County Court. The case has dominated the district attorney race between incumbent Terry Houck and challenger Stephen Baratta.

Authorities say an employee at the Giant supermarket at 7150 Hamilton Boulevard in Lower Macungie Township put sewing needles into grocery items. The juvenile worker has been identified and charges are pending.

University police are looking for information on a screaming incident that occurred on Lehigh's campus over the weekend.

Police found no evidence that a 21-year-old Allentown man was trying to steal from vehicles before he was fatally shot last month by a resident, who was also fatally shot, authorities announced Tuesday.

Joseph Roy, the superintendent of the Bethlehem Area School District, is being sued in federal court by Liberty High School Assistant Principal Antonio Traca. Roy says he has never struck a district employee. Read the complaint here.

Northampton County District Attorney Terry Houck, running for a second term, has said his office reduced crime by 25% since he took office. State statistics tell a more complicated story.

The buyback, coordinated by District Attorney Terry Houck, trades $50-$200 grocery gift cards for unwanted weapons.

Pa. Governor Josh Shapiro wants to create a new bank account to fund the State Police without taking money away from road repairs.