Alleged Embezzlers Gambled Township's Money, DA Says

Former South Whitehall Utility Supervisor Nancy A. Tonkin and her husband, a former township police officer, are charged with embezzling $854,497 from township coffers over more than a decade, the Lehigh County District Attorney says.

Intruder Tried to Steal TV at Springhouse Middle School, Officials Say

A teen-age intruder was captured Sunday night at Springhouse Middle School allegedly trying to steal a television, a Parkland official said.

South Whitehall Township Police are investigating a burglary Sunday at Springhouse Middle School in which a teenager was caught allegedly trying to steal a television in a hallway, according to a news release issued Monday by Parkland School District. Police and a school supervisor responded immediately when they were notifed by the school’s alarm system, the news release said. Officials conducted a search of the building after the intruder was apprehended, the school said. The teenager's name has not been released.

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Lehigh Valley OMG PD

OMG PD: $2,500 Ransom Demanded from Woman, Police Say

Here's a round-up of unusual police news from the Lehigh Valley.

$2,500 ransom demanded from woman, police say: Upper Macungie Police said a woman received a phone call Monday stating that her father was being held captive. The caller demanded a $2,500 ransom. However, the woman later found out her father was safe. Bethlehem man charged with bigamy: A woman with a marriage certificate from New York complained to police that her husband married another woman in Northampton County, according to court records. Man exposed self to cops, threatened judge, police say: An Easton man was charged with disorderly conduct Wednesday morning after he allegedly exposed himself and cursed at police officers, urinated on police paperwork, and threatened a district judge. Police officer breaks toe chasing man at Palmer …

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Lehigh Valley OMG PD

OMG PD: House Painter Stole Picasso Drawing, Police Say

Here's a round-up of unusual police news from the Lehigh Valley.

House painter stole Picasso artwork, police say: Prosecutors in New York said an Easton man stole $100,000 worth of artwork—including a piece by Picasso—from an estate he had been hired to paint. The 42-year-old man is charged with grand larceny, money laundering and identity theft in two different New York counties, and faces up to 26 years in prison, according to a news release from the Kings County, N.Y. (Brooklyn) district attorney's office. Babysitters leave child home alone, steal laptop and cash, police say: A South Bethlehem couple who left their 10-month-old daughter in the care of a nephew and his friend returned home to find their infant home alone and that they had been cleaned out of $1,500 cash, a laptop computer and a video …

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Wheels, Phone, iPads Stolen, Police Say

Five iPads were among items reported stolen last week in South Whitehall, police said.

The following information was provided by the South Whitehall Police Department. Theft—Five iPads reported missing May 8 from Eastern Pennsylvania Endoscopy, 1501 N. Cedar Crest Crest Blvd., police said. Retail theft—Cathina Spear, 28, of Allentown, arrested and charged May 7 with taking more than $400 in merchandise from Target, according to police. Theft from vehicle—Wheels removed May 3 from vehicle parked in 4600 block of Crackersport Road, police said. Theft—Phone reported missing May 6 from residence in the 1100 block of Bulldog Drive, police said. Burglary—Laptop and guitar reported taken May 2 from a residence in the 5000 block of Chapmans Road, police said. Theft—Cash taken April 30 from lockers at Target, 2700 Cedar Crest Blvd., …

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Now Hiring: $53,000 South Whitehall Police Officer

Applications for the new South Whitehall police officer position are due Friday.

The South Whitehall Township Police Department will hire a new patrol officer this year, according to Chief Thomas Toth. The deadline to submit an application is Friday. The department, which currently has 37 members, added four new patrol officers last May to replace four who retired. Starting salary for a new officer at the time was $53,026. The new patrol officer would be an addition to the force, which would allow a current member of the force to become a school resource officer in the Parkland middle schools, Toth said. The school resource officer's salary would be paid by the school district and the township, he said. Toth said he hopes to select a new patrol officer by mid-July and have the school resource officer in place before …

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Man Admits Role in Dramatic Home Invasion

Mikael R. Coles Jr., 25, pleads guilty in Lehigh County Court to his role in a robbery and shooting in South Whitehall, according to online court records.

A 25-year-old Philadelphia man pleaded guilty Monday to his role in a 2011 home invasion and shooting on South Drive in South Whitehall that, according to earlier court testimony, stemmed from a failed hip-hop concert promotion. Mikael R. Coles pleaded guilty to robbery, burglary, aggravated assault and conspiracy to commit aggravated assault in a negotiated plea before Lehigh County Judge Robert Steinberg, according to online court records. Additional charges were withdrawn. According to testimony at Coles' preliminary hearing, Coles had gone to the home to get back $20,000 he had put up for a failed hip-hop concert in Philadelphia, according to an earlier report in The Morning Call. Coles wanted to get his money back from concert …

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