5 Accused in 'Welcome Home From Jail' Melee

Four men and one woman have been charged in connection to an October 15 melee on Hess Street that started at a Bethlehem police said.

The fight involving no less than 20 people – some armed with knives or guns – and landing five people in area hospitals is “a continuation of an ongoing dispute between two rival groups,” Bethlehem Det. Lt. Mark DiLuzio said.

The investigation into the incident is continuing and more charges are pending, DiLuzio said.

The five people currently charged are all are expected to receive their charges by summons in the mail. The defendants and charges are:

• Darren Akhir Linton, 21, of 413 Pawnee St., Bethlehem, who was with two counts each of simple assault and harassment and one count of disorderly conduct. In his affidavit of probable cause, police accuse him of stabbing David Michael Torres in the chest and below the chin and slashing Torres’ twin brother Michael David Torres in the forehead. Linton told police he was acting in self-defense.

• Karla M. Ortiz, 18, of 606 Hayes St., Bethlehem, with recklessly endangering another person and discharging a firearm in city limits. In her affidavit of probable cause, Ortiz told police that she picked up a silver handgun, which was lying in the street during the melee, and fired it once into the air in an attempt to end the fight.

• David Michael Torres, 22, of 635 Fiot St., Bethlehem, with two counts each of simple assault and harassment and one count of disorderly conduct. His affidavit of probable cause says he tried to stab Darren Linton with a knife.

• Michael David Torres, 22, of 102 W. Susquehanna St., Allentown, with two counts each of simple assault and harassment. His affidavit of probable cause says he fought with Linton.

• Joel Fonseca, 30, of 611 Hess St., Bethlehem, with two counts each of simple assault and harassment and one count of disorderly conduct. No further information was available on Fonseca's charges.