Criminal Justice

Two county administrators will appear before Northampton County Council to answer questions about the staff shortage and the juvenile justice center's future.

A newly released report from the nonprofit Lehigh Valley Justice Institute shows the impact marijuana offenses have on the local court system and the difference in how individuals are charged in Allentown and Bethlehem.

The incident has prompted the Bethlehem Area School District and city police plan to ramp up security measures at future games.

Mayor Matt Tuerk of Allentown plans to release his proposed budget this Saturday. Residents are waiting to see what it holds.

At Wednesday's Allentown City Council meeting, the city's police chief requested permission to seek grants from the state to afford a gunshot detection system, new surveillance cameras and other upgrades.

Lehigh County is sitting on $1.7 million for opioid abuse treatment. And millions more are on the way.

The teen, a student at William Allen High School, died at Stevens Park near Sixth and Tilghman streets, authorities said.

Police released details Monday of the threat received last week through the Safe2Say tipline.

Officials learned of the threat through the Safe2Say anonymous messaging system.

Commissioner Zachary Cole-Borghi, 35, is among roughly 40 people charged in a multistate drug network. On Tuesday, his defense attorney argued in Lehigh County Court that his case should have a preliminary hearing separate from the others.

Police Chief Charles Roca said he will welcome Sgt. Evan Weaver back to full duty on the city's police force.

State Sen. Jarrett Coleman said the volume of errors makes him uncomfortable with BusPatrol cameras on school buses without changes to how the system operates.

Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan announced the decision Wednesday after an investigation by Allentown Police Department and Lehigh County Homicide Task Force.

Xiaomin Fei, 34, on Thursday entered the plea in the June 3 shooting deaths of Robert and Gretchen Ackerman, Northampton County District Attorney Stephen G. Baratta announced.

Santos Mota-Ramirez, 61, pleaded guilty Wednesday to two counts of attempted homicide, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, simple assault, arson and causing a catastrophe, District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan said.

Yunior Peralta-Quintana, 23, of Allentown, was convicted Friday by a Lehigh County Court jury after a four-day trial before Judge Anna-Kristie M. Marks.

Amazon driver Troy Johnson, 30, of Philadelphia, also was ordered to face court on a felony count of accidents involving death and misdemeanor counts of involuntary manslaughter and recklessly endangering another person.

The Lehigh County Coroner's Office said the 27-year-old died Saturday night at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest — hours after being shot during a standoff with Pennsylvania State Police in a North Whitehall Township driveway.

Yaniel Fermin, 17, is charged with homicide, possession with intent to deliver controlled substances and possession of a firearm by a minor in the death of Jeomy Miguel Soto, 19. Soto was shot Thursday in Allentown.

Three unidentified juveniles were charged with criminal mischief in connection with the damages, which cost the city about $47,000.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has used county office space but hasn't paid rent in three years despite a 2022 memorandum of understanding, county officials said. Said Controller Mark Pinsley: "We're going to deport ICE."