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Crime & Safety

Bethlehem Police Make Multiple Drug Arrests

Charges stem from suspected pot dealing on Jischke and Itaska streets and alleged heroin sales in front of New Bethany Ministries.

 

City police have filed charges in two 2012 drug cases – one involving alleged marijuana dealing in the area southwest of Five Points and another involving alleged sales of heroin and cocaine in front of the nearby New Bethany Ministries.

Three people have been charged in the marijuana case – two were charged Friday and one was arraigned Saturday. The two from Friday – both 18 -- had been taken into custody Oct. 5, when they admitted they bought marijuana from the suspect arraigned Saturday.

In the other case, city resident Evelyn Rentas, 49, admitted she sold heroin in front of New Bethany Ministries and told police May 26 she uses drugs and sells drugs “to support her own habit,” court records say.

Charged Friday in the marijuana case were Mary Elizabeth Herrmann of Allentown and Aaron Jacob Hohneck of Macungie. Online court records do not list exact addresses.

When police stopped them Oct. 5 in connection with an alleged marijuana sale in the area of Itaska and Jischke streets, they said they bought marijuana from Wilson Michael Martin, 24, who was arraigned Saturday.

A criminal complaint in Martin’s case filed by city Officer John M. Casella linked Martin’s arrest to surveillance on the 500 block of Jischke and at Martin’s address – 617 Itaska.

Casella said the Jischke Street surveillance was the result of numerous complaints by residents concerning drug activity.

The complaint says Casella saw a white Toyota sedan driven by Herrmann with Hohneck as the front-seat passenger stop at 617 Itaska. Within seconds of the car stopping, Martin emerged from the house’s rear door and went to the driver’s window.

Casella saw a “hand-to-hand transaction” between Martin and Herrmann. Martin went back into the house and Herrmann drove away, going north on Jischke.

Officer Joshua Schnalzer executed a traffic stop in the area of W. Fourth and Wyandotte streets and found a ziplock bag of marijuana in Hohneck’s possession.

Criminal complaints were filed Friday against Herrmann and Hohneck. Each was charged with marijuana – small amount for personal use and purchase/receiving of a controlled substance.

A summons issued Friday for Herrmann was accepted Sunday, online records say. A summons for Hohneck also was issued Friday, but the records do not say it has been accepted.

Martin was arraigned Saturday afternoon by on-duty District Judge Todd Strohe of Bangor on a charge of possession with intent to deliver marijuana. He was committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $10,000 bail.

In the other case, Rentas also was arraigned Saturday afternoon by Strohe, also on a charge of possession with intent to deliver. But in her case, the drug was heroin, according to a criminal complaint filed by city Officer Stephanie Molnar.

Molnar said she was dispatched May 26 to 337 Wyandotte St. – in front of New Bethany Ministries – for a report that three males and a female were selling heroin and cocaine.

Another officer saw a woman matching Rentas’ description get into a dark-colored Kia Spectra at W. Fourth and Wyandotte. He said Rentas would be in the back seat.

Molnar executed a traffic stop on the 500 block of Broadway for a faulty rear brake light. Rentas denied having any drugs on her, but allowed the officer to search her and her purse.

In the purse, Molnar found nine packets of what later field-tested positive for heroin as well as $157 in cash. Rentas said she uses drugs and sells them to “support her own habit,” according to the complaint, which said nothing more about the three males.

Rentas, of 338 E. North St., was committed to county prison in lieu of $15,000 bail.

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