Crime News

Teen Hindered Arrest of His Wife-To-Be, Police Say

19-year-old didn't turn in the mother of his child in the weeks after he filed a protection from abuse order against her, police say. He married her. Now he faces felony charges.

A 19-year-old man who agreed to help Bethlehem police find a woman against whom he had just obtained a protection from abuse order is accused of hindering her apprehension, according to court papers. Apparently, Bryant Rivera had a big change of heart within weeks of filing that PFA against Samantha Allen on Jan. 14. On Feb. 1, Rivera and Allen, who was wanted on an outstanding felony warrant, got married, according to the court record. During the 17 days in between, Rivera failed to contact the Bethlehem police, answer his telephone or make contact with his own probation officer, though he knew that Allen was being sought on the outstanding warrant, police said. According to the affidavit: On Thursday, police formally charged Rivera with …

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Crime News

Suicidal Ex Made Deadly Threats on Facebook: Police

Allentown man makes multiple Internet threats against ex-girlfirend, police say. He had twice tried to commit suicide since August breakup, according to court papers.

An Allentown man who took a breakup with his girlfriend so hard he tried twice to commit suicide is accused of making multiple threats against her on his Facebook page, according to Bethlehem police. David Howell, 44, of 240 N. Front St., was charged with making terroristic threats and harassment for strongly suggesting through Facebook posts that he had intentions of doing harm to her and her children, according to the arrest affidavit. The warrant also says Howell sent an email to his victim’s place of employment, which got her fired. “Just because I am so quiet doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look over your shoulder for me. I will come in the night when you least expect me to exact my revenge,” was one Facebook post police quoted on an …

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Crime News

Police: City Man Assaulted Ex-Girlfriend

Victim had evicted him from her home and taken a protection from abuse order against suspect for a previous alleged assault.

  A Bethlehem man was jailed last week for allegedly assaulting and threatening his ex-girlfriend. City police say Barry Reiss was already wanted for an earlier assault when he showed up Tuesday at 261 E. Broad St., where he had lived with his ex-girlfriend. According to court records, the woman found Reiss, 31, asleep on her couch. When she confronted him, he assaulted her again. When her son called the police, Reiss allegedly told her "If I go to jail, you are one dead bitch." Police say the woman had taken a protection from abuse order out against Reiss and had him evicted from the home. Police arrived and Reiss fled from the building. Officers were able to take him down after a brief chase, with Reiss -- who had to be double-handcuffed…

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Court: Democrats Can Replace Brennan on Ballot

Party leaders have until 4 p.m. Wednesday to pick a substitute in the 133rd House District race. Legislator's PFA hearing postponed.

  Pennsylvania Democrats have until Wednesday to pick a replacement candidate for state Rep. Joseph Brennan on this year’s General Election ballot. Commonwealth Court on Thursday granted the embattled three-term legislator’s request to have his name removed from the ballot. The court also granted the Democratic Party’s request to pick a replacement candidate for the 133rd House District seat, giving a deadline of 4 p.m. Wednesday to do so, according to published reports. Facing criminal charges and a continuing struggle with alcohol addiction, Brennan announced Wednesday that he would not continue with his re-election campaign. He intends to remain in office until his term expires on Nov. 30. Mark Nicastre, a spokesman for Pennsylvania …

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Should State Rep. Joe Brennan Step Down?

Joe Brennan's wife receives court protection-from-abuse order the day after legislator allegedly assaulted her and then drove away drunk.

  The wife of state Rep. Joseph Brennan, who had already filed for divorce in June, on Thursday was granted a temporary protection-from-abuse order barring the legislator from contact with her or their two sons, according to The Morning Call. Brennan was arrested on Wednesday and charged with simple assault and drunken driving after he allegedly choked and punched Norma Jane Brennan on the porch of their Fountain Hill home and then drove away drunk. Brennan, 48, of 1201 Delaware Ave., is free on $7,500 bail. In her request for a PFA order, Mrs. Brennan's description of events echoed one of two arrest affidavits filed against the three-term legislator the previous day, according to the newspaper's report. "He assaulted me on the front porch…

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Crime News

Police: Threatening Texts Made to City Woman

Ex-boyfriend from Catasauqua accused of making violent threats against Bethlehem woman.

  A Catasauqua man is charged with making threats against his ex-girlfriend in Bethlehem via text messages sent from an email account provided by his employer, according to court records. Ricky Pagan, 29, of 405 Walnut St., allegedly sent the series of threatening texts between 10:04 p.m. Thursday and 5:07 p.m. Friday, according to the arrest warrant. He allegedly sent the texts from an email account provided by R.R. Donnelley & Sons, the affidavit says. The victim had filed for a protection from abuse order a few days earlier, according to the warrant. According to the affidavit, he sent one message that said: “I will be around your area and your phone is tapped … got your exact location whenever it’s on HaHaHa your getting f----- up big …

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Crime News

Man Accused of Stalking Woman with Hatchet

Marvine-Pembroke man accused of making threats to police officer after he was picked up outside of woman's home with hatchet in his pants.

  A Marvine-Pembroke resident who threatened a police officer Friday night earlier had a hatchet down the right side of his pants and was intoxicated as he sat in a car outside the home of a woman who obtained a Protection from Abuse order against him, according to court records. Harry Atwood Jr., 42, of 1209 Hilton St. was in the driver’s seat of a gold Oldsmobile on the 400 block of Taylor Street on the SouthSide when police spotted him around 8:20pm. Bethlehem Police responded to a report of a PFA violation, the records say. The hatchet found down the right side of his pants had a red handle. Police also found that his driver’s license was suspended. Atwood was arrested and was “very irate” once in the patrol car. He smelled of alcohol …

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