John Michael Hann, age 61, was taken into custody Thursday morning on charges of a homicide and attempted homicide filed in connection with a shooting in Lehigh Township on Wednesday night. My story about this murder and arrest should appear in this morning's online Bethlehem Press, and is already in The Times News.
Updated 10/9/17 at 10:30 am. - No military at scene! - Bethlehem Township Police Chief has provided the following statement in response to an anonymous claim that military handled this arrest: "FYI. The men wearing Kevlar helmets and carrying automatic weapons who assisted with the apprehension of John Hann on Oakland Road were members of the PA. State Police Emergency Response Team. There were no military personnel on scene."
Today's one-liner: "The shortest way to the distinguishing excellence of any writer is through his hostile critics." Richard LeGallienne
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Friday, October 06, 2017
6 comments:
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Living about a quarter mile from where all this took place, I have to give my praise to all those involved in the apprehension. The Township that alerted the people to what was going on (sign up for alerts on the Township web site), keeping the children safe, and all the authorities that were there in force to protect the community. It was amazing to see all these good people in action.
ReplyDeleteWell said, Ben. Though I do not live in BT, I do get the Nixle alerts bc they are useful in covering the township. I believe BT really is leaps and bounds ahead of most municipalities when it comes to social media. That is a credit to Melissa Shafer. Also, BT police are very professional. I am amazed that they were able to handle this situation without anyone getting hurt.
ReplyDeleteI noticed from the photographs that military soldiers were used to make the arrest for the civilian police. Or perhaps there is no distinction anymore between the two.
ReplyDeleteProfessional apprehension I must admit. This was and armed man suspected of murder and was brought in alive. He should thank his maker he wasn't black.
Those soldiers were from the 101st Airborne amphibious detachment who were training at Dutch Springs, lucky they were in the area to lend a hand!
ReplyDeleteCould we get some clarification on "military soldiers were used to make the arrest for the civilian police"? Doesn't the Posse Comitatus Act prevent that?
ReplyDeleteAnd reports from employees indicate that Northampton Community College folks were told of police activity in the area, but no lockdown or shelter in place. With other tragedies of recent note, was that a smart move by college personnel to have people exposed so close to where everything was happening?
So far as I know, this was a police operation. There was no mention of the military at the presser. In fact, it is illegal to use the military for police activity.
ReplyDelete