Criminal Justice

Isiah Yeager, 25, is due to stand trial Oct. 20 — 28 months after he was charged with homicide in connection with a fatal stabbing at Synergy Hookah Lounge.

Ashton Jordan Thomas, 18, of Stewartsville, New Jersey, turned himself in to the Bethlehem Police Department this week, authorities said.

Allowing some residents to stay at the encampment for an extra month is “the safest and most humane course of action,” Mayor Matt Tuerk said. But no one else will be allowed to set up camp there before its closure.

ICE agents have agreed not to wear masks and to present ID and warrants when operating inside the Lehigh County Courthouse. But county officials declined to spell out specific procedures for ICE inside the courthouses.

The drowning death of a Hanover Township, Northampton County, child in July has been ruled accidental, the district attorney said.

On a narrow residential street, Etienne Theagene was driving 40.7 mph when he struck and killed Edward Tomcics, according to a criminal complaint filed Thursday.

Edward Tomcics was fatally struck on the night of Dec. 25 outside his home on Water Street. More than seven months later, authorities charged the man who hit him.

Officials on Thursday said Allentown YMCA will open its shelter at least six weeks early this year to serve some residents of a homeless encampment who are being evicted.

Authorities in Allentown arrested a pair of brothers on drug charges Thursday morning, and seized nearly half a million dollars worth of cocaine at one of their homes.

Easton City Council opted to remove a Welcoming City ordinance from its Wednesday agenda, leading to a debate among council and the public as to the need for and intent of the legislation.

Isiah Yeager, 24, was arrested in mid-June after a 29-year-old Bethlehem man was fatally stabbed at Synergy Hookah Lounge on Allentown’s East Side.

Authorities believe the same person or people are responsible for the break-ins due to the proximity and times of the calls. Police say there have been 16 reported thefts the past week and more unsuccessful attempts to enter locked vehicles.

A new study from the Lehigh Valley Justice Institute of the area's local courts found a link between time spent in jail awaiting trial and harsher prison sentences.

Authorities cleared the synagogue Thursday and determined the threat was unfounded after receiving an email indicating explosives would go off, a security official said.

Former Hellertown Borough Police Chief Robert Shupp appeared in court Monday, charged with 18 counts for to allegedly taking $122,000 in borough funds.

The crash happened about 1:15 a.m. Sunday in the 300 block of West Hamilton Street. Police say the driver of the vehicle wasn't hurt and their investigation is continuing.

The crash occurred around 1:15 a.m. Sunday in the 300 block of Hamilton Street in Allentown, according to police.

Mark Sivak, the city's former budget and finance director, was sentenced to a year of probation, restitution and required to cover investigation costs incurred by the city. Other charges were withdrawn under the plea deal.

Ed Smith served nearly a decade on the federal bench after a career as a military lawyer and a Northampton County judge. He died Monday.

Jim Martin, who has served as Lehigh County district attorney for a quarter-century, played a major role in the launch of the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Center.

In an effort to ensure drivers in the Lehigh Valley abide by speed limits and remain mindful of not being distracted, Pennsylvania State Police plan to step up enforcement from Wednesday through Sunday in this Thanksgiving holiday period.

Joshua Steven Gonzalez, 39, of South Whitehall Township, is accused of possessing child pornography after a detective allegedly traced videos to his computer.