Standoff with Robbery Suspect Ends Peacefully

A brief standoff between police and a 16-year-old armed robbery suspect ended peacefully in South Bethlehem early this morning.

According to the Bethlehem Police blog, Azim Brown surrendered less than six hours after he allegedly robbed two men at gunpoint in the tunnel at the south end of the Fahy Bridge.

The Northampton County District Attorney’s office authorized police to charge Brown of 604 High St. as an adult, police said.

The warrant against Brown charges him with robbery, theft, receiving stolen property, simple assault, possession of instruments of crime, recklessly endangering another person and firearms violations, police said.

The robbery happened just before 7:30 p.m. The robber got away on foot after having taken a cell phone and a pack of cigarettes from his victims, police said.

The victims were able to give enough information to allow police to identify Brown as the suspect. After obtaining the warrant, police set up surveillance at Brown’s home and also at a relative’s house at 510 E. Fourth St., police said.

Officers saw Brown enter the home at 510 E. Fourth St. a little after midnight, but the suspect did not respond to police commands to leave the house.

Police tactical and negotiating teams were called to the scene at 12:46 a.m., police said. But with that tactical team assembling outside at 1:16 a.m., Brown surrendered “without incident,” police said.

This was the second time this week that had to deal with an armed suspect who refused to leave a house. On Tuesday, police tactical units responded to the 1700 block of W. Broad Street in West Bethlehem for what appeared to be a . That too ended without incident.