The Real-Time Crime Index Shows Crime Is Down

FBI statistics shows crime going down, but is it really? That has been the subject of vigorous debates by talking heads and in the Presidential and Congressional races. For that reason, a group of analysts have come up with the Real-Time Crime Index, which tracks data from 350 law enforcement agencies, including the nation's top 25 cities. Nationwide, it supports the contention that both violent and property crime is down. This also seems to be the case in Lehigh Valley communities and even Philly. 

Let's look at Allentown. In the first 6 months of 2023, there were 210 violent crimes. Over the same period it's 202, a slight drop. There were 1,362 property crimes during the first six months of 2023. This year, there were 1,137, a 16.5% drop. For some reason, rapes have nearly doubled, but murders dropped from 12 to 2. 

In Philly, there's been a 35.7% drop in murder, 12.3% decrease in violent crime and an 11.9% dip ion property crime.  

Pa.Sentencing Comm'n: Majority of Offenders (77%) are White

Two weeks ago, NorCo Council member Tara Zrinski proposed her latest nonbinding resolution. This one is calling for the legalization, taxation and regulation of marijuana. Although it was tabled at her own request, she called it a "social justice" issue. "This is going to take thousands of people out of jail," she said, adding that many of them are black or brown. Like her, I believed that sentences in Northampton County are disproportionately visited on persons of color. But according to the 2017 annual report from the Pa. Commission on Sentencing, we're both wrong.

The 136,313 offenses sentences in 2017 represent a four percent decrease over the previous year.

More than half of the non-DUI sentences (60%) were non-incarceration sentences. In 1990, county jail and non-incarceration sentences were nearly equal, but the trend now is to find an alternative to confinement.

Despite what you might think, non-incarceration is the most likely outcome for drug offenses (67%).

Eight-three per cent of all sentences in 2017 were the result of a negotiated plea, what we commonly call a plea bargain.

Contrary to what most of us are conditioned to think, the majority of offenders (73%) are white, not black or brown. In Northampton County, 77% of those sentenced were white. In Lehigh County, which has a larger minority population, 72% of those sentenced were white.

Most offenders (76%) are male.

Of 16,360 misdemeanor drug offenses like possession of a small amount of marijuana, the most common disposition is probation (71%). Statewide, only 1,227 people were sentenced in 2017 for possession of a small amount of marijuana. Instead of "thousands" of black and brown men languishing in jail, the actual figure is a little over 100 mostly white men.

Distracted Driver Blamed for Easton Middle School Student's Death

Two years ago, I treated myself to an iPhone. I became instantly mesmerized. I could do anything from it. Send emails, tweets, even blog. And though I prefer to blog from a PC, I soon found myself using the iPhone to read and respond to blog comments. When at a light, I'd glance at the phone, and would start pecking a smart-ass answer to a smart-ass comment. This ended when Palmer Township police officer Jeremiah Santo pulled me over on Route 248 one day, not far from Sheetz. I had been all over the road on what is a very busy highway. I could have killed someone. I was cited for distracted driving and actually thanked the officer. His action woke me up. But the family of Emma Raymondo, age 12, is in a nightmare. Their little girl was taken way from them on September 22 by a driver who has been accused on texting while driving.

Emma had just left the Sheetz Convenience Store, where she had gone with siblings for ice cream. They were walking home. She was off the roadway.

This young lady was a 7th grader at Easton Middle School, a member of the Junior National Honor Society and a high yellow belt at the Lehigh Valley Martial Arts School. .

Dylan T. Groff, age 21, was off the roadway, too. But he was driving, not walking. He had just left Wal Mart at 8:04 pm, and video surveillance showed he was looking at his telephone screen. According to investigators, he had been using the Google Chrome Internet browser from 7:57 pm, when he was still at Wal Mart, until 8:06 pm, after he was already on the road. After that, Groff and two others began exchanging Facebook messages at 8:08:22 pm, with the last message being sent by Groff at 8:10:06 pm. They were discussing dinner options. Then, at 8:11:08 pm, he used his cell phone to call 9-1-1 after striking Emma. Groff was distracted by his cellphone.

Groff admitted he had been using his cellphone, but thought he was off sooner than forensic evidence reveals. He was cooperative with police and upset by what had happened. There is no evidence of alcohol or drug abuse, or that he was speeding. The evidence is that he wandered off the roadway and onto the shoulder because he had been distracted by his cellphone.

Yesterday, DA John Morganelli announced the following charges: homicide by vehicle (Felony 3); aggravated assault by vehicle (Felony 3); involuntary manslaughter (Misdemeanor 1); reckless endangerment (Misdemeanor 2); reckless driving (summary); careless driving (summary); and driving on roadways laned for traffic (summary). He faces a maximum sentence of 22 years behind bars and $46,200 in fines. Because he was texting and his conduct resulted in death, an additional seven years could be added to what is already an onerous penalty.

Morganelli claimed that texting while driving is just as dangerous as drink driving. He cited statistics that here in Pennsylvania, over 14,800 crashes in 2015 were the result of distracted driving. Nationwide, 10 percent of fatal crashes, 15 percent of injury crashes and 14 percent of all police-reported motor vehicle traffic crashes are the result of distracted driving. This could be cell phone use or more innocent distractions.

"You never get used to looking into the eyes if a Mom and Dad and siblings who have just lost a young child," said Morganelli, who had prosecuted these kinds of rimes for the past 25 years. "These are always difficult meetings and are emotional for me and family members." But Emma's family agreed that Morganelli could use what happened to Emma as an example to warn he public and possibly save lives.

He admitted that even he has been distracted at times by his cellphone. But on behalf of Emma and her family,he said we should al examine our own behavior and put down those cellphones.

"New drivers must be given simple, clear instructions not to use their wireless devices while driving. Before our young people get their licenses, we should discuss the fact that taking their eyes off the road - even for a few seconds - could cause someone injury or death.

"We all have to lead by example. As I indicated, none of us can say we never did this. But the truth is noone should text and drive. We can be an example for others. If we need to text, we canpullover to a safe place,making sure our vehicle is not in motion.

"We can become informed and active. We should all tell family, friends and anyone who is willing to listen of the importance of driving without distractions. Schools can play a role in this."

A new feature on iPhone's software might make it easier to keep your eyes on the road. A "Do Not Disturb While Driving" message silences incoming notifications until you reach your destination.

"High School Drama" Results in Senseless Violence in Bethlehem Township

Scott Beckerman lives in a beautiful home in Bethlehem Township, within a stone's throw of Barnes and Noble Book Store and a Panera Bread. A registered nurse, he's the Director of a Nursing Home facility in Allentown. On a hot Saturday night on July 20, he was enjoying a rare evening at home. But that ended at 10 PM, when he was assaulted, right outside his home, by a gang of five mostly underage kids. Angry at his step-daughter, they had just texted her, "We're coming." Beckerman tried to shoo these kids away from his home. He was rewarded with a broken nose, fractured cheek, a collapsed sinus making it hard to breathe, knocked out front teeth making it difficult to eat and lower back pain that hobbles him a month later.

Wearing a tie and dress shirt in District Judge Joseph Barner's court room, an angelic looking Justin Mayberry, age 19, was bound over to County Court on aggravated assault and related charges after a preliminary hearing on August 29. He was represented by Easton Attorney Matt Potts, and sat silently in the courtroom as Beckerman and his 17 year-old step-daughter testified.

In response to questioning by Assistant District Attorney John Obrecht, Beckerman told Barner that when he heard a group off kids was coming for his step-daughter, he intended to send them on their way. When a car pulled up parallel to his driveway, he approached the driver and a passenger, telling them they had to leave. Instead, both of them punched him in the face, with the first blow knocking a tooth out of his mouth. After the third punch, he tripped and fell to the ground. That's when three more kids, including Mayberry, emerged from hiding behind bushes across the street. Some of them kicked at him while he was down. Others, including Mayberry, punched at Beckerman with closed fists.

Beckerman believes the kids scattered when he was able to struggle back to his feet. But his step daughter testified they ran when she saw her using her cell phone to call police.

"Thank God it was me instead of my daughter," Beckerman later said.

Brian Kirchner, the arresting officer who also serves as Freedom High School's School Resource Officer, denied after the hearing that drugs or gang activity was involved.

"It's high school drama," he said.

Three participants turned themselves into Township police on the night of the incident and confessed. The minors will be tried in juvenile Court on September 10. Beckerman would like to see them tried as adults.

Anonymous Benefactor Offers Help to Stolen Car Victim

Yesterday, I told you the story of a single mother in Allentown whose car was stolen from outside her home as she slept. Though Whitehall police recovered her car, she was stuck with a $242 towing and storage bill. Unable to afford to keep the car in storage for a few more days, police will make no effort to investigate the theft because they can't check for fingerprints inside an impound lot. Though she had insurance to cover tows, Whitehall's contracted tow operator refused to accept it. Though the car was in storage for less than two full days, she was charged for three. That's how the system works for people who live from paycheck to paycheck. If you have a good job and steady income, a nicer car and collision policy is a given. If you have no job at all, the government steps in and gives you everything you need. But for our growing class of working poor, there really is no safety net, other than medical insurance for children (CHIP). So you can go hungry, have no funds to send your loved ones to school and have no nest eggs as you grow older.

In response to my story yesterday, an anonymous benefactor called, and offered to help. To be honest, I'm not sure his kind offer will be accepted. These people may be poor, but they are also proud. I offered some money myself, and was shot down pretty quickly. That's probably because I'm in the same boat myself. Either that or they think I'm a maniacal stalker who kicks pigs. But I was allowed to speak to the tow operator for them, which was probably the biggest mistake they could have made.

I'm a graduate of the Michael Molovinsky School of Diplomacy. He told me I'm a natural. But I came up short yesterday with the tow operator.

First, I got lost trying to find his place. The GPS on my iPhone kept sending me to a volunteer fire station on Pine Street for some reason. So I had to talk to the guy by phone.

"What's this I hear about you refusing to accept the insurance for the tow?"

----- "I'm sorry sir, but I have bills to pay, too."

"Why the hell are you charging three days storage when you haven't had the car for two?"

----- "I'm sorry sir, but I go by calendar days, and my contract with Whitehall allows me to do that."

"This has nothing to do with your contract with Whitehall. It has to do with your contract with this woman, who has no money to begin with. You were at home all weekend, sitting on your ass, and you're charging her. Are you telling me you can't give her a break on $30?"

----- "I'm entitled to take weekends off, too."

"We'll see what you're entitled to when I sue your ass."

At this point, the tow operator hung up on me and kicked the woman off his lot.

"Now, you're not going to get the car at all. Get out of here!" is what I'm told he said.

In hindsight, it was probably a bad idea to have me talk to the tow operator. I probably need a refresher course on my diplomacy skills.

Eventually, the tow operator relented and gave the woman her car, with no breaks on the original price. When she got it back, she learned that thieves took everything, from her cash and credit cards to even her son's social security card. She has to get a new registration card, which means even more money.

This situation, in my view, illustrates the shortcomings in our Democratic and Republican ideologies. On the one hand, we have a social welfare state that gives people no incentive to better themselves and provides little or no assistance to those who degrade themselves by working. On the other hand, we have a limited government mantra in which people are supposed to rely on family, churches and charities. People are told they should be more responsible and keep an emergency stash of cash, with absolutely no understanding that the working poor need every penny they earn to meet current expenses, and even that is sometimes inadequate.

Local government officials are too busy hobnobbing with the JB Reillys and Mark Jaindls to notice the people who are actually paying for the tax breaks they dispense. Those are the people who should be heard.

CACLV Executive Director Alan Jennings likes to say that he speaks for those who have no voice. Actually, there is a chorus of voices speaking for those who are dependent on government services.

But who speaks for the Abe Lincoln poor? Those who are willing to and do work? Unfortunately, no one. They are the backbone of America, and are daily becoming a serf class to both the very poor and very rich.

DA Asks Victims of Facebook Rapist to Come Forward

David Martinez: The Facebook Rapist

By his own admission, David Martinez, age 20, is addicted to sex. He's told police he's "completely unable to control himself" around woman. They are "just unable to say No to him," he tells Bethlehem investigators. Martinez faces rape and other charge after using Facebook to befriend two young females, after which he lured them to his Maple Street apartment in Bethlehem.

Last September, Martinez met a 17-year-old Catasauqua girl on Facebook. After exchanging picture and text messages, he arranged to meet her and take her back to his apartment. Once her got her there, he allegedly forced her to have sex with him.

Then, on February 1, he picked up a 14-year-old Bethlehem girl from Liberty High School and raped her at his home after befriending her on Facebook.

When questioned by police, Martinez admitted that "his hormones were out of control" and that there are "other incidents involving similar situations."

Northampton County DA John Morganelli called a news conference on February 6 concerning Martinez, whom he considers "a person of danger" and "possible serial rapist." Morganelli states that Martinez told police his Facebook behavior was a "daily routine," so the DA is concerned that there may be other underage victims. "I see him as a serial rapist and someone who is preying on young girls," stated Morganelli.

"The Internet is a wonderful place," said Morganelli, but cautioned that teenagers often lack "common sense" when dealing with strangers.

Martinez is in Northampton County jail under $100,000 bail.

Morganelli is asking anyone who has been contacted on Facebook by Martinez to call the District Attorney’s office at 610-559-3020 or Bethlehem Police Detective Moses Miller at 610-997-7674.

Beware of Holiday Scams

Although Mayor John Callahan's single trash hauler was the main event at the West Bethlehem Block Watch on November 26, Officer Joshua Schnalzer offered some good advice as the holiday season approaches. According to Schnalzer, there were 3 vehicle break-ins and one case of vandalism in West Bethlehem in October. But he claimed that the holidays are the "busy season" for police, warning especially about scams.

One possible scam was highlighted by West Bethlehem resident Bill Scheirer. He received a recorded telephone call asking him to press "1" if his security system was inadequate. He did so and got a garbled message.  He believes it's possible that whoever called may just have been collecting data on properties that have inadequate security for a possile burglary down the road.

Bethlehem Safest Among 3rd Class Cities Over 30,000

George and Raven make a new friend

Six out of ten Bethlehem residents feel safe, according to a recent survey. That's their perception. But is it accurate? If Pennsylvania State Police Crime Statistics are any indication, that perception is reality. Over the last five years, Bethlehem has been the safest of eleven third class cities in Pa. whose population exceeds 30,000. Of them all, the Christmas City has had the lowest incidence of murder, rape, robbery or aggravated assault. In fact, its violent crime rate is below the state average.

Now in Allentown, Mayor Edwin Pawlowski has insisted for years that the Queen City is really safe. Naysayers like Michael Molovinsky and I are derided as misguided misanthropes who create a false perception. But as you can see in the chart below, which covers a five-year time span, you are twice as likely to get mugged, murdered or raped in Allentown than elsewhere in the state. You're more than twice as safe in Bethlehem.

The most dangerous third class city is Chester, whose residents and visitors are nearly six times more likely to be victimized by violent crime than in the rest of the state.

Why the difference between Bethlehem and Allentown, which are right next to each other?

Bethlehem mounted police have good will ambassadors like George and Raven. Allentown has no police horses, but to be fair, its Mayor has often been likened to at least part of a horse's anatomy.

Both Bethlehem and Allentown have approximately the same police officer to resident ratio. So it's hard to blame the incidence of violent crime on an officer shortage. It might be that Allentown's population is much more transient, uneducated and poorer.

You don't solve that problem with a Johnny Manana's.

Or a hockey arena for the out-of-towners.

Violent Crime Index For Pa. 3rd Class Cities Over 30,000

city	county	2010 census	5 year average	per 100,000   population	ratio to state 5 year average
pennsylvania	all counties	12,702,379	38,455	309.1	1.00
chester	delaware	33,972	561	1651.4	5.68
harrisburg	dauphin	59,528	692	1397.2	4.80
york	york	43,718	476	1088.8	3.74
reading	berks	88,082	714	810.6	2.79
lancaster	lancaster	59,322	416	701.3	2.41
allentown	lehigh	118,032	708	599.8	2.06
erie	erie	101,786	458	450.0	1.55
wilkes-barre	luzerne	41,498	161	388.0	1.33
scranton	lackawanna	76,089	204	268.1	0.92
bethlehem	norco/lehco	74,982	170	226.7	0.78

Used Cooking Oil Being Stolen From Local Restaurants

David Gentile

Not all that long ago, restaurants had to pay to have used cooking oil hauled away. But with a rising demand for biofuel, it's become a valuable commodity. Companies like Valley Proteins pay 45 cents a pound, sending out tanker trucks for periodic pick-ups. But thieves are sending out tanker trucks, too, or barrels in the back of a van, according to a private investigator. He warned Northampton County police chiefs, at their June 6 meeting, that these thefts are occurring here in the Lehigh Valley. While most of the theft is coming from Valley Protein competitors, the Philadelphia Joint Terrorism Task Force is still concerned.

David Gentile, a private investigator and former FBI agent hired by Valley Proteins, provided police chiefs with a list of local restaurants that have empty tanks. Because these thefts occur in the middle of the night, most establishments are unaware of them. But from the Yu Garden to the Olive Garden, the tanks are dry. In fact, that's what Valley Proteins tankers have discovered at 24 Northampton County restaurants, from downtown Bethlehem to Bath.

According to the Joint Terrorism Task Force, used cooking oil has been converted to bio diesel and mixed with fertilizer to create explosives.

In March, Solebury Towsnship police arrested Mohamed Brahmi and Khalil Hamayel for the theft of a large amount of used cooking oil from a Bucks county restaurant. They were transporting the material in a 2003 Ford Econoline. That case is still pending.

An Allentown FBI agent, who attended the meeting, stated this kind of theft has become a "national problem."

FBI's Most Wanted List Turns 62 Today

Houston Press' Hairballs lists eight songs about some of the infamies who made that list.

Crime Rises Another 3.67% In Bethlehem Thru June

Is it the casino?

It might be called Christmas City, but crime is continuing to climb in Bethlehem. Statistics maintained by the Pennsylvania State Police reveal that, in 2010, there were 6.24% more criminal offenses reported than the previous year, including violent crime.

In the first six months of 2011, there's yet another 3.67% jump. If there's any good news, it's that violent crime seems to be down.

Figures for Easton are still being tabulated. In Allentown, however, crime has dropped another 2% through June, over the same period last year.

Bethlehem Leading in 2010's LV Urban Crime

Yesterday, I told you that during the first nine months of 2010, there was a whopping 145% increase in attempted burglaries over the same period in 2009. This is according to the Pa State Police Uniform Crime Reporting System. One of my readers, Bill, asks if this is really such a big deal, especially if it went from something like 5 to 14. He wants the actual numbers, and that's a fair point.

Before doing that, I should point out that the data compiled by the PSP is "subject to continual edit, and should not be considered complete until the Annual Report is compiled." It is very possible that the final numbers will be a lot different as data is entered into the system. Bethlehem, for example, may actually see a decrease in crime during 2010 once the final report is compiled. But it does not look that way now. Through September, here is how 2009 compares to 2010 in the LV's three cities:

Allentown: Known offenses have dropped 3%, from 11,319 to 10,980. Attempted burglaries have increased 18.5%, from 124 to 147.

Bethlehem: Known offenses have increased 4.18%, from 4,929 to 5,135. Attempted burglaries have skyrocketed 145%, from 11 to 27.

Easton: Known offenses have dropped 9.2%, from 3,917 to 3,558. Attempted burglaries have dropped 14.2%, from 7 to 6.

Mayor Callahan, in an effort to stamp out crime in Bethlehem, has decided to augment the mounted police unit with a few giraffes.

Bethlehem Has a Burglary Problem

Just before Christmas, Bethlehem City Council set the wheels in motion to borrow $16 million for annual bills as well as the annual pension contribution. They adopted a $65 million budget that eliminates 54 jobs, including two fire fighters, and put off a wage hike for nonunion workers until July. They also levied a 5.3% tax hike to pay for needed capital projects like a new EMS facility. The City had already borrowed $6 million for that, but amazingly diverted the money to medical coverage for City workers. After dealing with all these financial concerns, City Council learned on January 4 that the Christmas City has a new problem.

Burglaries.

In response to questions from Council President Bob Donchez, Police Commissioner Stuart Bedics admitted there's a problem. "We have seen an increase in burglaries in December 2010." A new street crimes unit is devoting their resources to solving these crimes, which occur mostly on the City's south side. "We're putting more feet on the street," he stated. Bedics added that Lehigh University police do a nightly check on 110 residences near their campus.

Council member Karen Dolan expressed some concerns about panhandling, which she calls "aggressive begging." On three separate occasions over the last month, she's been accosted my three different "drugged out" or "drunk" people on the south side, asking her for money.

One south side resident agreed, stating "it is virtually impossible to shop on the south side without being panhandled." He added that his home has been burglarized five different times. "Do you know what it's like to be chasing people around the house in the middle of the night?" He likens the south side to a "war zone."

Statistics maintained by the Pennsylvania State Police through September confirm that there is a problem., Bethlehem has a higher crime rate than Allentown or Easton in 2010. According to the data collected through September, Bethlehem's overall crime rate up 4.18% over the same period in 2009. By contrast, Allentown is actually down 3% and Easton is down 9%.

Attempted burglaries have dropped 14% in Easton, while Allentown has experienced a 19% increase. This pales in comparison to the Christmas City, where attempted burglaries have skyrocketed 145%.

Maybe Callahan should hire a few more mounted police.

Updated 11:30 AM, Bethlehem Patch Provides More Detail. In a detailed account, Bethlehem Patch provides more details on what it calls a crime wave.

Allentown, Where Justice Is Delayed and Denied

LVCI has posted a disturbing blog about an Allentown woman who was assaulted and left for dead. Allentown's finest actually arrested the guy on unrelated charges, but released him and let him roam the streets for a year. They only acted after the victim went to CBS News. Not only did the police fail in its mission to protect, but local media outlets also dropped the ball. A Philly news outlet had to break a story that was missed by The Morning Call and local blogosphere.

Allentown has a problem, and it's pretty clear that this problem stems from an undermanned police department. I thought this might be a good time to repeat a story I first told you over two years ago.
On Monday, I met congressional candidate Sam Bennett's 78 year-old newspaper delivery man. I'll call him Mr. A. He has asked me to keep his name and address off this post. He is afraid. He has reason to be afraid. From Bennett to Allentown police to the Morning Call itself, Mr. A has clearly been ignored. Old folks seem to mean very little to them.

Background

Let me tell you a little bit about Mr. A. When I visited him on Monday in west Allentown, the first thing I noticed was his yard. Every square inch was growing lettuce and other edibles. When I walked inside his modest home, vegetables of all kinds were growing all over the place. Mr. A is on a vegan diet. While I was at his home, a nice lady and her pretty young daughter dropped by with a few vegan meals. He promised to repay their kindness with plenty of veggies in a few weeks. I was thinking about cheeseburgers.

Mr. A speaks three different languages, is well-educated and was employed as a professional before his retirement. He began work as a newspaper delivery man so that he could control his high blood pressure. He had trouble staying on an exercise program, but the delivery job did the trick. In a month, his blood pressure was perfect.

Mugging on Bennett's Porch

On October 27th, at 4:30 AM, Mr. A had just picked up his newspapers and was starting his route. His very first home is the Historic Benner Home owned by congressional candidate Sam Bennett. As Mr. A ascended the steps, he was grabbed from behind and thrown onto the steps like a rag doll. A Hispanic-looking man, between 25 and 35, simply said "Money! I need money." He tussled with this fellow, who was wearing a long jacket between beige and orange in color along with some sort of black cloth on his head. During the encounter, Mr. A noticed that Sam Bennett had opened one of her windows and was watching the incident. By the time she came outside, the assailant was gone. He had taken about $20, a driver's license and a credit card.

Sam Bennett and Mr. A agreed about the description of his assailant. She commiserated with him, telling him she had been robbed herself. She promised to call police. Mr. A sat on her porch and waited thirty minutes. No police officer showed up, so he finished his route, went home and called police himself. He also called Bennett to ask why she never called the police, but all he got was her voice mail. Officer Heiserman came to Mr. A's home and took a statement (Complaint 07-90144). At this point, Mr. A learned that no one had called police before his own call.

Mr. A Disputes Sam Bennett's Stories

Sam Bennett actually has two explanations for this incident. At first, she was somewhat incredulous. "I broke up that mugging. What are you talking about? I've even called in stabbings. We are the first ones to call in disturbances. He [Mr. A] was getting mugged on my front steps, and I went outside in my pajamas and broke it up. I made sure he was OK. I told him to stop delivering the paper in the dark. He was traumatized. I stayed in communication with him throughout that whole thing. I was not the one who called the dispatcher. I get my paper later now. I told him not to deliver until it is lighter."

Later that day, she sent me an email to "add" to her original story, although it appears to be inconsistent with her original statement. "Living as we do next door to the Hotel Traylor, my husband and I over the years have found ourselves calling the police frequently about stabbings, gunshots, street fights and more. When I jumped out of bed and flung open the front door of our home early that morning, I incorrectly assumed it was yet another drunken interaction on our front steps. My response was to admonish the misbehavers and send them home. I did not know that our newspaper man had actually been mugged until the next day when he and I spoke on the phone. I’m glad I opened my door and hopefully prevented further harm from being committed in response to the noise I heard. But in hindsight I wish that I had known what was really happening, because in that event I would have called the police.”

I read each explanation to Mr. A. After hearing Version #1, Mr. A simply stated, "That is false." Once I read Version #2, Mr. A quietly responded, "This is a lie, too."

Morning Call Screws Up its Story, Too!

The day after the mugging, the Morning Call did run a story, asking anyone with information to call the police. But instead of reporting that Mr. A was robbed at the Historic Benner Home, the paper erroneously listed Mr. A's own address. After many calls, the paper finally ran a brief correction to indicate that the robbery had actually occurred at 25 South 15th Street. That was November 10.

Allentown Police Conduct Shoddy Investigation

In addition to losing $20, Mr. A also lost a credit card. Right after calling police, Mr. A also called his credit card company. He was told the card had already been used three times at two different locations - the Sunoco at 12th & Hamilton and the 7-11 at 7th & Linden. Mr. A visited both stores to see if there were any surveillance photos. Sunoco had surveillance videos, but refused to show them to Mr. A, claiming they could only show them to police.

But thank heaven for 7-11. The manager took pity on Mr. A, and gave him a computer copy of a photo of Mr. A's assailant, taken as A's credit card was used to purchase cartons of cigarettes. You can see a grainy copy of that photo at the top of this blog.

Mr. A immediately called police, but they told him they "didn't have time to look." They refused to go to either store. He was told he would have to wait for a detective.

A neighbor, who works for the Lehigh County District Attorney, told him her office has detectives, and two of them soon visited Mr. A. Although they lack jurisdiction to investigate, they at least made sure that an Allentown detective, Thomas Anderson, was assigned to the case.

Unfortunately, Detective Anderson has had no time to investigate this matter, either. "I told him those videos don't last forever, but Anderson claimed he doesn't have time." When Mr. A showed Detective Anderson the picture he obtained on his own, the investigator snapped, "You're not supposed to have that." Anderson did eventually send a written request for the videos. But it was too late. The videos are gone.

In the meantime, Mr. A actually saw his assailant in the Hotel Traylor lobby. He called for Detective Anderson, who was unavailable. He spoke to Anderson's boss, who told him they were "too busy" to do anything.

Mr. A finally called Congressman Charlie Dent. He tells me Dent called some Allentown official in his presence and in no uncertain terms told him to do his job.

Not long after that, Detective Anderson did stop by Mr. A's home with a picture. Mr. A was at the hospital undergoing tests. His high blood pressure has returned. "The magic is gone." Mr. A has since visited the police department repeatedly to try and see Anderson, but he's always too busy, working a different shift, in the middle of an interview, etc.

Mr. A believes Allentown police are making the city "a paradise for the criminals." Given what he's gone through, I can understand his reluctance to give his name or precise address. It's more likely he will be visited by his assailant than a cop.

Morning Call Has No Regard For Robbed Carrier

The Morning Call demonstrated its disdain for Mr. A from the onset. It failed to publish the address where the robbery occurred, instead listing the home address of its own carrier. I asked him how the paper reacted. "Nobody approached me to ask if I was OK. I doubt the higher ups know anything. Those in Circulation just don't care."

Mr. A also tells me the newspaper at one time paid all carriers equally and distributed papers through its trucks. Now different carriers get different pay and he must go to headquarters himself for the paper, and is actually charged rent to put the paper together. "They are losing $4 million a year and are trying to get the money from the carriers." While he gets screwed, Mr. A tells me customers like Sam Bennett get a special discounted rate for her newspaper.

Conclusion

Last week, I told you about the problems Kari Holmes has had getting Allentown police to do anything concerning a racially-motivated assault. Mr. A's experience is even worse. He's been snubbed by a congressional candidate, Allentown police and a newspaper. Despite having a picture of his assailant and seeing him in the Hotel Traylor lobby, he's been ignored. The paper for whom he works offers no condolences and can't even get its report right. And the congressional candidate who was an eyewitness to the robbery has given varying accounts.

Allentown: "We Are a Neighborhood Under Siege"

Allentown resident Bill Stauffer, who resides on the 100 bock of S. 16th Street, has a soft-spoken voice, but delivered a powerful message to his City Council last night.

"My wife and I have owned a home on S 16th Street since 1998. There has been more crime in our block and the surrounding blocks than the other 11 years combined. I got off easy. Somebody stole a 70-pound potted plant and some other plants off my porch. You've heard about Bob's [Bob Romancheck] experience. We've found stolen cars in front of our house. We've rousted people as they're buying drugs at a home up on Walnut Street.

"We don't sleep well anymore in our neighborhood. I'm very proud of my neighbors. We're all homeowners, we work together, but I know that the men don't sleep. I don't.

"About three weeks ago, I heard a loud noise out of my home and someone yelling at somebody who was stealing more plants off of someone's porch. By the time I got downstairs, other neighbors were out to find the gentleman walking up the street screaming they were going to come back for the person that was yelling at them, and get their stuff. He said it in a lot more colorful language than I just did.

"We are a neighborhood under siege.

"Now I read the stats that crime is down in our community. It is way up in my particular neighborhood. There's an alarming trend to this. We have a choice. We love our neighborhood. We love our house. We love Allentown. But there's something that happens in this kind of situation, where you wake up every morning, looking 'Are my plants there?', 'Is my furniture there?','Is my car there?', 'Is that sound I hear downstairs someone braking into my home?'

"This is something that happens, and I'm deeply concerned at what's happening in our neighborhood. ...

"I'm not entirely sure what to ask for. I would like to know what the statistics are of crime in my particular neighborhood, in comparison to others or in comparison to the past. That would be something that would be helpful. ...

"I'd also like to talk about something that's a little more fundamental. When you're sitting around, your neighbors are talking about how long they can handle it, how much are they going to take.

"We have a lot invested in Allentown. In fact, we have everything invested in Allentown. Bob [Romancheck] has everything invested in his house. Mike Scware, the guy who had his wheels almost stolen, that's where he lives. Actually, you all know the people in this neighborhood. And there's many more andseveral crimes are happening on a daily basis.

"Not enough is happening. I'm deeply concerned about this issue and I need to take a stand for my home. I need to take a stand for my neighbors. And I'd really like to ask that more be done about the escalating crime situation in our neighborhood because I don't want to be the guy, like my one neighbor, who came downstairs and found someone in my home."

After he was done, Council put him in touch with Assistant Chief Hanna. Stauffer had apparently called Council member Peter Schweyer about this situation, but this Jennifer Mann aide failed to return Stauffer's call. Maybe he thought it was about Gawlick.

Updated 10:50 AM: Actually, I've learned that Stauffer had called about somethng else, so I stand corrected on that point.

What King Edwin Doesn't Want You to Know About Those Crimes Stats

Everywhere he goes, King Edwin tells the huddled masses, "Don't worry. Be happy." He confidently tells them crime is down 20%. He glosses over all those pesky unsolved murders.

Here's what he's failed to tell them; during his four years in office, the number of unsolved crimes has steadily risen. Would you even bother reporting a criminal act if you knew it would be ignored by the police?

Using the same Pennsylvania State Police data relied on by Allentown leaders, it's clear that law enforcement is increasingly unable to investigate or prosecute criminal activity. Let's look at the facts since 2000, when state police started collecting data.

2000: 13,205 of 17,445 reported crimes are solved (76% success rate)

2001: 13,035 of 17,277 reported crimes are solved (75% success rate)

2002: 13,385 of 17,297 reported crimes are solved (77% success rate)

2003: 12,587 of 18.025 reported crimes are solved (70% success rate)

2004: 7,194 of 18,304 reported crimes are solved (39% success rate)

2005: 6,487 of 18,366 reported crimes are solved (35% success rate)

2006: 6,123 of 19,072 reported crimes are solved (32% success rate)

2007: 5,822 of 17,383 reported crimes are solved (33% success rate)

2008: 5,361 of 16,794 reported crimes are solved (31.9% success rate).

Allentown's finest had a remarkable record between 2000 and 2003. That suddenly changed in 2004, and has continued throughout King Edwin's four years in office. It's what happens when police officers are stretched too thin, and officials rely on goofy blue surveillance cameras instead of boots on the ground.

Do you want a Mayor who will allow this terrible record to continue?

Pa. Mayors Against Illegal Guns Have Message for Specter

This just in from Mayors Against Illegal Guns:

"Today 106 PA Mayors printed an open letter to Senator Specter as a full page ad in the Philly Inquirer and the Pittsburgh Post Gazette -- urging him to oppose the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act. ( You can read the letter here.)

"The legislation, which could come up for a vote today, has received surprising little attention. If it becomes law, it will undermine Pennsylvania's permitting guidelines -- requiring PA to accept concealed carry permits from any other state in the nation -- even if the person would not otherwise be eligible in PA. Pennsylvania currently accepts the permits issued by 17 states -- but 25 do not meet sufficient standards. This is about states rights, and protecting our citizens and out police.

"Since 2002, assaults on police officers in PA have increased 76% and 18 have been shot and killed in the line of duty. This sort of irresponsible mandate is the last thing Pennsylvania needs."

The Philadelphia Daily News condemns this proposal as the "latest outrage from the NRA-controlled Congress" and "an egregrious trampeling of state's rights."

Sea of Blue Rally in Allentown on Sunday

The Mike Welsh for State Rep. campaign will hold a "Sea of Blue" rally in Allentown on Sunday afternoon. It will focus on Allentown's need to add significantly more police officers. Mike Welsh supports legislation to add more cops as the best way to combat the Queen City's crime problem. In contrast, incumbent Jennifer Mann's public safety solution is . . . a hockey rink.

Yeah, that's the ticket.

When: Sunday, November 2nd from 12 PM to 3 PM

Where: Allentown Rose Garden Pavilion

Questions: 484-347-1833

Mike Welsh: Answer to Allentown Crime is More Cops, Not Ice Hockey

Republican Mike Welsh is Jennifer Mann's official challenger for her state house seat. Mann's legislative district is located almost entirely in troubled and crime-ridden Allentown. Instead of dealing with the Queen City's serious crime problem, caused mostly by a 50% spike in center city poverty during her time in office, she's used her seat as a springboard to something - anything - else. She's already run for the state senate, state auditor and state treasurer. In her most recent attempt to flee Allentown, she ran for the state house and state treasurer, two incompatible offices, simulataneuosly.

Her solution to the center city's poverty and high crime? Ice hockey.

Yeah, that should do it.

Mann gets a free pass because she's in a heavily democratic district and is, as she likes to brag, "union made." Her dad was a union organizer. That might give her some understanding of labor issues, but she's hopelessly out of her element when it comes to Allentown's working poor - her real constituency. A Republican like Welsh seems more in tune with their problems than Mann.

On Friday, Welsh conducted a news conference designed to draw attention to Allentown's poverty and crime. I was at work, but here's the text of Mike's statement.

Good afternoon and thank you for coming. I chose this location to spotlight the need for greater policing in Allentown and to address Jennifer Mann’s failed leadership in improving the situation.

The Nineteenth St Card & Gift Shop was for many years one of the delightful small businesses in Allentown’s West End. It provided members of the community the opportunity to purchase a card or small gift for someone special and as a post office annex it served many of the postal needs of the community. Upon arrival you could expect to see a neighbor or engage in a friendly conversation with the owners. Unfortunately, this has all changed.

This shop was burglarized on two occasions in 2007. After the first burglary in April 2007, despite sustaining a significant loss the owners were able to remain open. After an additional burglary in August, things changed dramatically. The burglars not only stole merchandise but were capable of removing the postal safe and dragging it over 4 blocks unimpeded in the 19th St corridor one of the premier business districts in the city. This forced the owners to limit their hours of availability, sustain great financial loss and has made them all too fearful as no suspect or suspects are in custody. This has become all too common in Allentown. In fact, according to Pennsylvania State Police, Allentown’s solved crimes, commonly known as “clearance rates,” have dropped from 76% in 2000 to an appalling 33% in 2007.

As a long time resident of Allentown and now Republican candidate for State Representative in the 132nd district, I believe that incidents like this are occurring with greater frequency. I have attended many neighborhood watch meetings and have heard numerous complaints of incidents of graffiti, theft and vandalism. Many of these complaints reference frustration that the police do not adequately respond or are not called due to a perception that the police are overworked, over stretched and compelled to handle more serious crime in downtown Allentown.

I must ask the question though; did it have to be this way? Many, if not most of you, are now familiar with the Allentown police pension agreement realized during the Afflerbach administration. While we could argue extensively about the settlement, I believe we would be better served to examine what we could have done differently following the event and how best to move forward. Let’s examine a recent use of state monies in the Lehigh Valley. In 2004, Jennifer Mann, along with local leaders, worked together to bring baseball to our area. In October 2004, Governor Rendell requested an effort on their part to match an initial state grant of $12,000,000. Working together they achieved that goal, but I believe that Representative Mann should have moved to abruptly halt the initiative in 2005 and instead request emergency funding to replace the 53 officers who retired under generous pension terms. As a representative whose district encompasses nearly all of West Allentown and downtown Allentown, I believe this would have been appropriate and demonstrated her leadership in ensuring a safe Allentown but also an Allentown with a sustainable economic future based upon the assured safety of our residents. Even half of this $12,000,000 grant would have been significant in addressing the emergency need of our community.

Now Jennifer Mann is active in pursuing another sports venue, a hockey arena in the Lehigh Valley rather than searching for ways to increase the police presence in Allentown. I was surprised to learn that, as of this date, she is not a co-sponsor of HB1189. That's a legislative initiative to bring nearly $6 million to Lehigh County for additional policing. While it is difficult to determine the exact number of officers Allentown would receive, it offers an opportunity for this district to pursue state resources to address its policing concerns and I believe that this should be the priority rather than the pursuit of another sports venue.

Perhaps the reason Jennifer Mann has not adequately addressed our district’s policing need rests in three failed efforts to achieve higher political office. An unsuccessful bid for Auditor General in 2004, an unsuccessful bid for State Senator in 2005 and this year an unsuccessful bid for State Treasurer. It is clear Jennifer Mann no longer desires to serve as our State Representative.

As the next State Representative for the 132nd district, I will work to make sure Allentown’s police department reaches 300 officers. This would represent a 30% increase. It would also more accurately reflect the number of officer’s 2006 FBI statistics show that communities our size should possess in the Northeast and Middle Atlantic United States.

I will work with local and county leaders to make the achievement of this goal a priority. I will not place economic development initiatives ahead of personal safety. I believe that increased crime is not a perception in Allentown but a reality. I believe that many crimes go unreported and I believe that there can be no significant economic development in Allentown without first addressing this goal.

Thank you.

Create free ringtones at Phonezoo

Mayor Ed's Police Plan? Loaded With Bullshit Burgers

As some of you know, I live in Nazareth, a place Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski - King of Renaissance Square - has disparagingly called "the boonies of Northampton County."

Hizzoner made that snide remark to Morning Call columnist and blogger Bill White, who himself lives in the boonies, to deflect criticisms I've made of his Allentown reign. It's a charming tactic that King Ed and his cronies use regularly.

Actually, those of us who live in the boonies of Nazareth really do care about Allentown. Most of us have family and loved ones who live and work there. What happens there affects us. We also decide whether we want to shop or do business there.

So when Pam Varkony asked readers to attend the grand unveiling of King Ed's latest new policing plan, I went. Walking from Linden Street to city hall, a pleasant summer evening was interrupted by the cacophony of shouts and yells from the prison, eerie noises that serve as a constant reminder of Allentown's very real crime problem. How anyone can visit city hall on a regular basis and not be struck by that, is a puzzle to me.

I was late, thinking the meeting started at 7 PM. After listening for a few minutes, I was very glad to have been tardy. Experts were pontificating with psychobabble about "trusting relationships," focus sessions," "problem-solving strategies" and "implementation challenges." Amazingly, one of them actually stated crime is really beyond the control of a police department. Mayor Pawlowski was asked one, very brief, question by Council Prez D'Amore, and off he went! He spent at least ten minutes, inconsistently claiming "We've accomplished a lot" and "We have to do a restructuring." Rarely have I ever seen a person take so much time to say so little. No one asked him to clarify. That might take another twenty minutes.

Council decided to squeeze in a pesky zoning matter for a few minutes, so I decided to take a walk up Hamilton Street. I bumped into two cops who were doing the very same thing. We made a trade. I translated what the suits were talking about, and they told me what they thought.

"We need more police," is what one cop quietly told me.

Four words.

When I made it back to city hall, the experts from Hanover Justice Group had finally run out of hot air. Now it was the politicians' turn. Uh oh. But Council members Eichenwald, Guridy and Donovan were impressive, asking thoughtful questions about (1) diversity on the force; (2) increasing the number of officers; (3) the merit of hiring part-time officers; and (4) how rank and file officers feel. Amazingly, the police plan does nothing to add diversity or the number of officers. Jeanette Eichenwald stated, "More of our officers need to look like our citizens do." The experts completely ducked the question about part-time officers, demonstrating some political acumen that defied their professorial style. The chief claimed he had no idea how rank and file officers feel, although he's heard no negative feedback.

In order to report the above paragraph, I sat through an hour of bullshit burgers. One of the experts, Dr Wasserman or Watson or something, condescendingly told council members he visits Scotland Yard once every month. They repeated a lot of psychobabble, but failed to answer a single objection. Every now and then, Pawlowski would pipe in with a "We're getting better" or "We've accomplished a lot" or "As you know, police cost money." But he didn't stop at those pithy phrases. He'd go on and on and on and on and on and .... get the picture?

When it was council member Schweyer's turn to question the experts, he read a carefully prepared, but boring, speech. He started serving up softballs, and I decided it was time to leave. Ninety minutes of bullshit burgers is enough. I feel bad for the hundred or so residents patiently waiting for their turn to speak. I wonder how many survived. Channel 69 eventually began pulling them out into the halls to get their opinions, both in English and Spanish, which was very cool.

What were they saying?

"We need more police."

Four words. No bullshit.