Rt. 378 in Bethlehem Reopened After Crash

A serious car accident at about 2pm Sunday closed part of Rt. 378 in both directions in Bethlehem.

Part of Route 378 in Bethlehem was closed in both directions following a serious car accident that occurred Sunday afternoon shortly after 2pm. According to the Bethlehem Police Department blog, the "major" crash happened on Rt. 378 north of Eighth Avenue and an investigation into it is ongoing. Police said two people with injuries were transported from the crash scene to area hospitals. The crash occurred between the Eighth Avenue exit and the 14th Avenue overpass. Traffic was detoured and the highway was closed north of Eighth Avenue while the vehicle involved in the accident was removed and debris was cleared. Authorities estimated that the highway would reopen between 4:15 and 4:30pm, according to the Bethlehem Police Department's …

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Under Armour Employee Stole $2,300, Police Say

Nina Maria Magan, 22, of Lower Saucon Township, allegedly stole more than $2,300 while working as an assistant manager in the Under Armour store in The Shoppes at Sands in Bethlehem.

An assistant manager at the Under Armour store in the mall at the Sands Bethlehem casino has admitted to stealing more than $2,300 from the store "to pay her bills," court records say. Nina Maria Magan, 22, of the 2100 block of Schwab Avenue in the Steel City section of Lower Saucon Township, was charged Friday with theft by deception and receiving stolen property. Her alleged actions, which occurred between Dec. 27 and Friday, were captured on the store’s surveillance video, according to a criminal complaint filed by Bethlehem Police Officer Jeffrey Fehr. The complaint says Magan took merchandise from store shelves and returned it for store gift cards, then converted the gift cards into cash she took from the register and kept for herself…

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'Serial Rapist' May Have 3 More Victims

Northampton County DA John Morganelli is seeking victims of a 'serial rapist'

A Bethlehem man who allegedly blamed his sex addiction for the rape of two teens he met on Facebook may be implicated in three more cases, according to a WFMZ report. Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli said this week that David Martinez, 20, may have more victims, based on police interviews with Martinez. Since Morganelli's announcement, at least three girls have come forward. Their claims are being investigated. He asked anyone who thinks they were victimized by Martinez to call Bethlehem Police Det. Moses Miller at 610-997-7674 or the DA's office at 610-559-3020. "We do consider him [Martinez] a person of danger and a serial rapist," Morganelli said in a news conference Wednesday. Martinez -- who is in Northampton …

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'Serial Rapist' May Have Other Victims, DA Says

Northampton County DA says David Martinez, accused of raping two teens he met on Facebook, may have more victims.

A Bethlehem man who allegedly blamed his sex addiction for the rape of two teens he met on Facebook may have other victims, Northampton County's District Attorney said Wednesday. John Morganelli says police interviews with David Martinez, 20, suggest he met and sexually assaulted other girls. As he prepares to prosecute the case, he's hoping to hear from other young women who were targeted by Martinez. "We do consider him a person of danger and a serial rapist," Morganelli told reporters at a news conference at his office. Martinez -- who is in Northampton County Prison on $100,000 bail -- allegedly raped one of the girls last February and the other last September. He raped the girls – one was 14, the other 17 -- on the couch inside his …

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Borough Man Hit Bouncer With Rock, Police Say

After he was ejected Sunday night, Robert Joel Marcantoni, 31, of Hellertown, allegedly threw rocks at a security guard at Molly's Irish Grille & Sports Pub on East Fourth Street in Bethlehem.

Police say a Hellertown man threw rocks at bouncer after being told he'd had too much to drink at a South Bethlehem bar. Robert Joel Marcantoni, 31, was charged Sunday with aggravated assault, simple assault, resisting arrest, harassment, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness. According to court records, Marcantoni was drinking at Molly's Irish Grille & Sports Pub on East Fourth Street Sunday night, until he was told he'd had enough. At that point, he subjected the bartender to a series of "vulgar outbursts," and was told to leave. Police say Marcantoni punched one of the bar's security guards and then began to throw "fist-sized river rocks" at him. One of the rocks hit the guard. Another missed, and sailed through …

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OMG PD: Man Tried to Steal 114 Candy Bars from Wawa

Same gray-haired man in his 50s is suspected of stealing or trying to steal candy bars from two different Wawa stores in the past week.

  Bethlehem Police are seeking the public’s help in finding a man suspected of making candy thefts at Wawa stores in the city. The thief is described as being in his 50s, with gray hair and wearing a blue jacket. On Friday, police released a surveillance photo of the suspect. Police were called to the Wawa at 741 E. Broad St. about 2 p.m. Tuesday after the suspect tried to run off with 114 candy bars valued at $141.90. According to police, he tried stuffing them into a black shopping bag, but “got spooked when an employee came out of the restroom and noticed what he was doing.” He fled from the store and got into a silver-colored car. The same suspect is believed to have made a successful candy theft at the Wawa at Eighth Avenue and …

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Crime News

1 Woman Dead, 5 Men Wounded in Shootout Outside Puerto Rican Club [Updated]

Bethlehem police are investigating the early morning shootings outside the Puerto Rican Beneficial Society in what has been described as a chaotic scene.

Story updated at 9:50 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2 A 23-year-old woman was killed and five men wounded following a shootout early Sunday outside the Puerto Rican Beneficial Society, Bethlehem police said. The identity of the woman killed has not been released, pending notification of next of kin, but lehighvalleylive.com reported that a friend identified her as Yolanda Morales. Her death has been ruled a homicide, according to the Lehigh County Coroner's Office. On Sunday, there were candles, flowers and notes set up as a memorial at the shooting scene. "Yoli, my Baby Girl," read a note. "Ur gonna be missed. Dearly love you and Gonna miss u always and forever. Rest with the Angels."  Multiple 911 calls about the shootings in the 200 block of E. …

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OMG PD: 5 Women Punched Cop in Bethlehem

According to court records, 5 women punched officer in the head while he tried to make arrest on E. Third St. early last Saturday. One from Allentown is charged with aggravated assault.

  A group of women attacked a Bethlehem police officer trying to make an arrest early last Saturday on the SouthSide. In the end, an Allentown woman --  Barbara Cintron-Santiago, 24 -- was charged with punching an officer several times about the face and head. Court records say nothing about other women being charged, including the woman the officer was trying to arrest. The incident involving city Officer Louis D. Csaszar and others began around 3 a.m. when Csaszar saw another officer performing a field sobriety test on a male in the 200 block of E. Third St. A group of people gathered, and Csaszar and another officer asked the group to leave, Csaszar said in a criminal complaint. A male refused and the other officer arrested him. The …

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Police Warn Parents of Stranger Danger

Do your kids know what to do if a stranger approaches them?

Police urge parents to make sure kids know what to do if they are approached by a stranger. A Bethlehem boy did exactly the right thing in a case reported Tuesday night on West Broad Street. He said "no" and ran home when a suspicious man tried to lure him into a car. Police ask: Are you prepared?  Have you had these difficult talks with your children?  If not, please consider it.  Here are some tips on what to tell them. Tips for Keeping Kids Aware and Safe Parents are now encouraged to avoid using the term “stranger danger.” It tends to induce fear. In addition, statistics show that it is more often someone the child knows, rather than a stranger, who inflicts harm. Besides, there are many ways an adult can convince a child s/he is not a…

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Police: Registered Sex Offender Has Gone AWOL

Registered sex offender Francis John Labelle no longer lives at his registered address near Hellertown. Bethlehem police are seeking the public's help in finding him.

The Bethlehem Police Department is seeking the public’s help in finding a registered sex offender who no longer lives at his recorded address. Francis John Labelle used to live on Hellertown Road (Route 412), but has moved and failed to comply with registration requirements as a lifetime sexual offender, city police say in their blog. A felony warrant has been issued for Labelle’s arrest. It is possible that Labelle moved to the Poconos region, but that is unconfirmed, police said. If you see Labelle, police advise that you should call the police wherever you are. If you believe you might have information that will help track Labelle down, police ask that you please call Det. Moses Miller at 610-997-7674.

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