To Disprove Allegations of Political Bias and Racism, Easton Police Chief Releases Body Cam Footage of Council Member's Arrest

At last night's Easton City Council meeting, Easton Polic Chief Carl Scalzo responded to a request by Council members Frank Pintabone, Ken Brown and Jim Edinger concerning multiple accusations of racism and political bias made by Council member Taiba Sultana. These came after her arrest in July for assaulting her adult son. He strongly denied Sultana's accusations, noting that his accredited department's mission statement requires officers to treat everyone like members of their own family, regardless of status. He also responded to DA Steve Baratta's assertion, during an ARD (first offender) hearing for Sultana, that there had been "political twisting" and that "political avenues could raise their head."  He seemed, however, to be satisfied by later statements, in which Baratta said he would have dismissed the case if he thought it was politically motivated.  Chief Scalzo closed by playing the body cam footage of interviews with Sultana, her adult son and other members of the family that clearly demonstrate that police officers acted professionally and treated everyone, both victim and Sultana, with respect. 

I physically attended last night's meeting, something I have not done since COVID first reared its ugly head. As I walked into City Hall, I opened the door right into my own ugly head. Either the cataracts in my left eye are playing games with my depth perception or Mayor Sal Panto knew I was coming and spring loaded the door. I was unaware I was bleeding until the meeting was half over. 

In prepared remarks, which I will post separately once I obtain them, Chief Scalzo noted his department has been accredited for over 15 years. "That is why I was so upset, was offended, and I was angry when I heard and read the comments posted by Councilwoman Sultana that alleged that her arrest was somehow unfair, unwarranted or based on something other than our officers answering a 9-1-1 call from a young man seeking help."

The past several meetings were flooded by pro-Palestinian cease-fire proponents encouraged by Sultana, and they promised to keep coming, too. But last night, there were no flags or people draped in Yassir Arafat scarves. Sultana, however, has apparently learned a trick from her Hamas backers. She used children as human shields. She brought two of her children to the meeting and propped them up behind the dais, even though one of them was whimpering and clearly would have preferred to be anywhere else. Her husband sulked in a hallway outside. Instead of caring for the children, he let Sultana use them as political props.

There were no people wearing the Palestinian kaffiyeh, but there were 10 persons in the back of the room dressed in a different kind of uniform. They were Easton police officers and were obviously there in a sign of solidarity with their chief. 

District Attorney Steve Baratta was also present. He had a suit and tie. 

"Are you here for the cease-fire resolution?" I asked.

"If you want me to be," he responded. 

Chief Scalzo said he was releasing the body cam footage "to be transparent with the community we serve and to ensure that we have not violated the oath that every single one of us has sworn to uphold." He added that playing the video is "necessary to regain the trust of the citizens of this community. I say this because I genuinely believe that there are real life consequences to making statements such as those made by Council woman Sultana. My officers will have to deal with those negative consequences for the foreseeable future and attempt to convince the public that those statements are invalid."

Easton police are required to respond to all complaints of domestic abuse, no matter who is involved. Although parents may physically discipline minor children, any physical violence against an adult child is considered an assault. If there is an assault with physical injury, police are required to make an arrest. 

Chief Scalzo noted that police obtained statements from the victim and Sultana, took pictures and also obtained statements from other children indicating that she has been violent on several occasions. In one instance, the victim had to seek stitches after an assault. Police take these statements and photos in every case because victims often will later recant their accusations and "in doing so, remain in a potentially dangerous and abusive relationship." 

In recent years, the ranks of police officers have been dwindling nationwide. This is at least partially the result of calls to "defund the police" or even "fuck the police," which echoed a few short years ago on the streets of Allentown. "This profession and the officers who choose to serve across this country are constantly under attack, " noted Scalzo. "Yet these men and women continuously answer the call when community members need help. They don't ask for praise. They don't ask for appreciation. But I do not believe it fair to accuse these officers of racial bias or political bias when it simply did not occur. It is well past time that government leaders, political leaders and even law enforcement leaders begin to stand up for these officers and not only defend them when they do things the right way but praise them for their willingness to stand in defense for all of those who need help. I can assure you that our officers answered the call for help that afternoon and this department and these officers deserve much better than what they got in this instance."

Mayor Sal Panto noted he has the "utmost respect for our law enforcement officers. ... It is the men and women of the police department who have put their lives on the line and made this city a safe city" He noted that when he took office in 2008, the City was infested by the Latin Kings, the Bloods and Crips. Now they're largely gone, thanks to police. In response to Sultana's repeated allegations of political bias, Panto stated, "We are not involved politically. We are not involved at all." 

Sultana had no response to Chief Scalzo's or Mayor Panto remarks. During the time during which Council members report on what their committees are doing, she had no report. Instead, she reminded everyone that this was the fourth anniversary of the death of Breeana Taylor, who was killed by Kentucky police mistakenly executing a "no-knock" warrant at the wrong address. She called it an example of "systemic racism and police brutality," adding that "we must demand accountability, transparency and meaningful change in our law enforcement system." 

The last person to speak was Pam Panto, a former Council member and the Mayor's wife. "Ms. Sultana should be more concerned about the violence in her home instead of all the other issues." She also complained about Sultana having two of her children sitting with her behind the dais.  "It's not 'Bring your children to work' day. ... The father is here. The children should be with the father." 

During the meeting, progressive Democratic Lehigh Valley For All (who agree with us) released their slate of endorsed Democratic candidates in the state house races. They recommended Bob Freeman with three stars and gave Sultana a "not recommended." She's the only candidate in any of the state or federal races who specifically is "not recommended." Sultana claims "they have betrayed their own message and turned on communities of color to stoke [sic] their ego and to benefit a longtime do-nothing legislator." Yet in another disputed state house race (Pa House 131), the group endorsed Meriam Sabih, a Pakistani Muslim.