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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Tuesday, September 08, 2015

Who's Minding the Store in Nazareth?

On July 12, Nazareth Police Officer Fred Lahovski arrested Richard C Klingle and charged him with a litany of offenses related to the choking and repeated rape of a Nazareth woman. Klingle's preliminary hearing, originally scheduled for July 24, has been postponed until September 21.His bail, which was originally set at $25,000, was reduced to 10% and posted by his mother on August 7. Since then, Klingle has been out. Now he's been accused of kidnapping this woman from her Nazareth residence and raping her again, near Lake Minsi. Before releasing his victim, he swallowed up to 70 pills because he wanted to die. But police have been unable to locate him at this time.

Some of you may have questions about the bail being reduced, and will blame the judge. That would be a mistake. Judges rely heavily on the recommendations made by Pretrial Services. Unless one side or the other disagrees, those recommendations are usually adopted.

My concern is a bit more local. This offense occurred in Nazareth, and at a time when at most, only one officer was on duty. According to what Chief Thomas Trachta told WFMZ-TV69, the victim's mother could hear the struggle and immediately noticed her daughter was missing. But with only one officer on duty, it was easy for this rapist to kidnap someone and just take off.

The one officer with the most knowledge of Klingle, and who talked him into surrendering himself the first time, was apparently never even called.

I would think that when someone is abducted and raped, an "All Hands on Deck" is in order.

Klingle was picked up late Monday night.

9 comments:

Untouched Takeaway said...

They did just now find him in Washington Twp (PA)

Scary couple of hours here in Bugtussle - this was within 5 miles of my house.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Pretty weird. Thanks for letting me know.

Anonymous said...

Police departments have budgets and they are expected to live within those budgets. I wouldn't blame the police department just yet, until I knew for sure that Borough Council gave them enough funds to protect the citizens by having multiple officers on duty. I would be willing to bet that Council is tying their hands on this one. Check it out.

Anonymous said...

Not a Cupcake fan, but Pretrial Services failed horribly here. They had one job ...

Peter J.Cochran said...

BAIL SET at 10 PERCENT reported is 2,500-now the county should force collection of 25 G's from the relative ,even if it's equity in a home a dodge truck. We have a fortune in unpaid fines and bail issues to be collected,just like every place else in Pa. As far as this event goes, as unusual in Naz-o, this character has nothing and nothing means nothing to lose. They become dangerous to civil, nice people as a result, because they are easy targets for the interest of a felon. Well I doubt --- we can claim fault with PD. I would 'chip these characters'before they are let out-- ever.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Pretrial Services obviously failed. Hindsight is always 20-20. The question is why did they fail? If they did everything they were supposed to do, and this guy acted unpredictably, I would be hesitant to blame them. I am sure they will be looking into this themselves.

Anonymous said...

Let me get this straight.......He kidnapped her earlier and raped her and he is out on 2,500 dollar bail?????????Is that correct? If it is correct, then the system failed her and failed society. Someone should be held accountable.

Anonymous said...

The only reason the system is a failing institution is because one bad apple spoils the Hole bunch¿!($ Than there are the facts that some in the public sector cohort with these recidivism for hostel takeover tactiks employeed for there blight rebuild landholdings¿!($

Just a small piece of the puzzle that makes up the current administrational tools employeed as a public sector seat filled by private sector campaign donations pockets filled¿!($

redd
patent pending

Anonymous said...

Nazareth use to have two officers until 3am on Sundays. Most have quit or have been wrongly fired by the brains to be.