EASTON, Pa. — Easton Police Department says no criminal charges will be filed in an alleged incident of harassment against an Easton City councilwoman during the city Christmas parade.
On Friday, Nov. 28, Taiba Sultana released a statement saying “aggressive harassment, intimidation and politically motivated threats” from an individual at the city’s parade had led her to file a formal police report on the incident.
“There were no threats or any assault or anything like that made by either party. And I think it was more of a disagreement over political stances."Easton Police Lt. Joseph Alonzo
According to Sultana, a man approached her while leading the parade and “in an angry and hostile manner, shouted derogatory marks, invoked her past political opponents and told her ‘You shouldn’t be here,’ and ‘You have no shame.’”
Police Lt. Joseph Alonzo said Monday, Dec. 1, that he had spoken to both Sultana and the man accused of harassment, Jeremy Joseph, and no charges had been filed.
“There were no threats or any assault or anything like that made by either party," Alonzo said. "And I think it was more of a disagreement over political stances."
Sultana had also alleged online threats, though Alonzo said those statements “weren’t necessarily threatening physical harm from what I recall… I don’t believe there’s anything coming out of that one, either.”
'It's just a bad taste'
On Monday, Joseph said that Sultana approached him during the parade, and he told her that, because of political differences, he didn't want her marching alongside him and his Big Easy Easton Brass band.
Joseph said the event happened at 5:45 p.m. Friday, just before the parade, and that Sultana filed the report just five minutes later, before the start of the event.
"She's in front of me, and she's smiling and waving and acting like she's leading the parade. That's when I told her she has no shame."Jeremy Joseph
“Then the parade starts at six o'clock," he said. "We're going down the street and Taiba is standing right in front of me. I'm the leader. I'm the leader of the parade.
"She's in front of me, and she's smiling and waving and acting like she's leading the parade.
“That's when I told her she has no shame. Now, she told the reporters that I said that when she filed the police report. When she filed that police report, I had not said that at that point.”
Joseph said that he does not believe he has any legal recourse for what happened, “but it’s just bad taste for her to walk in front of me after I told her I don’t want her.”
'That's her punishment'
Joseph also questioned why Sultana remained at the event if she had felt so threatened.
“Now, if she felt so threatened after she filed a police report at 5:50 p.m., why would she come back to the parade and walk in front of it, walk in front of me, if I created such an unsafe environment that she had to file that report?” Joseph said.
"I'm going to bring a positive message."Jeremy Joseph
“Why would she come back if the environment was so unsafe, why did she include video of my band in her social media posts?”
Joseph said he intends to make an appearance at the Dec. 10 Easton City Council meeting to speak during public comment.
“I'm going to pack that room, and I'll tell you, that statement isn't going to be one about attacking Taiba, but it's going to be about celebrating the end of her council-ship," he said.
"And looking to a more positive future where Easton can get along and unite together.
“So I'm going to bring a positive message. I'm not even going to try to sue her. I don't want revenge. She has to be her. That's her punishment.”
