Criminal Justice

Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk on Thursday pointed to a slew of positive statistics as he said “violent crime is down” and asked residents to acknowledge the “recency bias” caused a homicide the night before.

Jahlik R. Colon, of Temple, was pronounced dead at 6:12 p.m. Wednesday in the emergency department at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, Coroner Dan Buglio said in a news release.

Liz Marie Pacheco, 38, of Allentown, on Wednesday pleaded guilty to third-degree murder for her part in the Dec. 7 shooting death of Hector Manuel Garcia Gomez, 46, of Palmerton, Carbon County.

As a new round of scams make way through Pennsylvanians via phone call and text message, officials are warning residents to be cautious and instead report potential scams to the appropriate agencies.

The shooting occurred about 1 a.m. Friday in the 400 block of Pierce Street. Police described it as "an isolated incident between known parties."

Jared Gerhard, 31, of Macungie, was sentenced Thursday in a hearing before Lehigh County Judge Anna-Kristie M. Marks to 9 to 23 months in Lehigh County Jail, county District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan said.

Leroy Mendez, 37, was charged with aggravated assault, aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI and accidents involving death or personal injury, all felonies, police said.

The shooting occurred in September 2024 near North Law and Liberty streets. Police said they arrested the 26-year-old suspect after spotting him Monday night walking with a woman in the 1300 block of West Walnut Street.

Brenda Rodriguez entered the plea before Lehigh County Judge Robert L. Steinberg. She is scheduled to be sentenced at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 5 and could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Matthew Torres pleaded guilty to homicide by vehicle while DUI and other charges in the Aug. 4, 2024, death of Leanna Ferraj, 24, of Brooklyn, New York, who was a front-seat passenger in his car.

Lehigh Valley Health Network was victimized in a cybersecurity attack last month. The network said it refused to pay a ransom. Now, patient information and photos have been posted on the dark web, according to LVHN.

The force, made up of municipal, county and federal investigators, is designed to fight the sexual exploitation of children in the county, along with human trafficking more broadly.

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

Marc Muffley was arrested at his home in Lansford, Carbon County, on Monday night. A hearing is set for Thursday afternoon in federal court in Allentown on charges that include possessing an explosive device at an airport.

On Thursday, Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin declared that a city police officer was justified in fatally shooting an armed man during a foot chase last month.

The FBI said Marc Muffley, 40, of Lansford, Carbon County, left the airport Monday after checking a bag that was to be loaded on an Allegiant flight from Allentown to Sanford, Fla.

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Law enforcement officials seized dark clothing, medical gloves, a flashlight and other items from a Pennsylvania home where they arrested a graduate student charged with stabbing four University of Idaho students to death. That is according to newly unsealed court documents.

Our daily list of useful information, chosen to inform and enhance your day, includes news you can use and then some!

20-year-old Ceu Uk, of Charlotte, allegedly threatened a shooting in the Saucon Valley School District in response to an after-school Satan club being allowed to meet on district property.

Law enforcement authorities describe turmoil within the Sikh congregation as a civil matter, preventing them from stopping people from entering the Nazareth-area building. Members of the Guru Nanak Sikh Society of Lehigh Valley say the are concerned for their safety.

Federal, state and local law enforcement officials announced Wednesday they had dismantled a gun trafficking organization that bought firearms across Pennsylvania and illegally sold them throughout the Southeastern region of the state.