Crime & Safety

Suicidal Homeless Man Charged in Metal Pipe Attack

Discussion in shelter office led to suicide threat and violent outburst, according to criminal complaint.

By Jack Tobias

A 57-year-old resident of a South Bethlehem homeless shelter struck a shelter official with a metal pipe after saying he wanted to kill himself.

Court records say Jeffrey D. Black, a resident of Victory House, 314 Fillmore St., ran out of the official’s office after making the suicide threat Thursday afternoon.

He then left the shelter through the front door, pushing it so hard it slammed against the building and shattered, according to a criminal complaint filed by city Officer Samuel Elias.

The official, a woman, followed Black and had another employee call police and an ambulance. She tried to get him to come back into the building to talk to her.

Instead, the complaint says, he grabbed a metal pipe from the rear of his pickup truck, swung it at her, hitting her left wrist, causing a laceration.

Other residents then restrained Black until police arrived. Damage to the door was estimated at $400.

Black’s court file says he works part time for Northampton Community College. It also lists a criminal record going back to 1977 on such charges as criminal mischief, trespassing, burglary and possession of marijuana.

Black was charged with aggravated assault—a level-two felony—as well as simple assault and criminal mischief. He was arraigned around 2 a.m. Friday by on-duty District Judge Robert Hawke of Lehigh Township and committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $35,000 bail.


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