The credit card was used at a convenience store and Wendy's, but the account was frozen at a sneaker store, police said.

A Bethlehem student is accused of stealing a necklace and a credit card from two other students at Liberty High School.

Joshua Williams, 18, of the 400 block of East Wall Street, is facing additional charges after becoming irate when confronted about the thefts at school, police said.

Williams was charged Tuesday with three counts each of access device fraud; two counts each of harassment and disorderly conduct; and single counts of theft and  receiving stolen property.

Williams was released on $10,000 unsecured bail. At attorney has not yet entered an appearance for Williams.

MORE: Witnesses: Ex-girlfriend ran over man on street corner then fled

Bethlehem police said the gold chain with a praying hands pendant and the credit card were stolen March 9 from the boys locker room at Liberty.

Surveillance cameras caught Williams entering the locker room around the time of the thefts, police said.

The credit card was used for three purchases March 9 at Pantry 1, 261 E. Union Blvd., police said. Cameras in the store recorded Williams signing for two of the purchases, and handing the card off to a second male for the third purchase, police said.

The card was then used at Wendy's, but the account was frozen after an attempted $120 purchase at a city sneaker store, police said.

On March 13, the school police resource officer saw Williams wearing a similar necklace to the one reported stolen. The victim identified the necklace as his by the stolen clasp, police said.

In a meeting with Assistant Principal Antonio Traca and school police resource officer Stephanie Molnar, Williams claimed he bought the necklace at the mall, but had no receipt to prove it, according to police.

Traca asked to see the necklace, and Williams reportedly handed it over.

Williams became agitated and within seconds asked for the necklace back, police said. Williams used profanity and referred to Traca and the officer by derogatory terms, before flipping chairs, one of which hit Traca on the leg, police said.

At one point during the tirade, the officer detained Williams in handcuffs "because his aggression was escalating," police said.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

Bethlehem Catholic's Niko Camacho clinched the victory.

The Pennsylvania all-star team defeated New Jersey's all-stars 26-21 in the 37th annual Easton Lions Club Wrestling All-Star Classic at Easton Area High School.

Bethlehem Catholic's Niko Camacho won a 3-2 decision over Charlie Tordik of North Hunterdon at 285 pounds to clinch the match.

Nazareth's Travis Stefanik was named the outstanding wrestler of the event after pinning Hunterdon Central's Mike Iodice at 182 pounds to give the Pennsylvania team a 23-12 lead.

Mikey Labriola of Bethlehem Catholic dominated Morris Hills' Joe Schiele at 170 pounds with a 22-6 technical fall in 4:25 to put the Pennsylvania squad ahead 17-12.

Trevor Tarsi of Nazareth recorded a takedown with five seconds left in regulation to force overtime and then earned a 5-3 decision over Alec Gleason of East Brunswick at 126 pounds. Northampton's KJ Fenstermacher had a late takedown to win a 5-3 decision over Warren Hills' Matt Valli at 132 pounds.

Matt Kolonia of Delaware Valley pinned Danny Moran of Northampton in 1:52 at 138 pounds to give New Jersey an early 9-6 lead.

Phillipsburg's Robert Melise pinned Parkland's Nathan Feyrer in overtime at 220 pounds.

Results

120 -- Jacob Falleni, Lenape Valley, d. Luke Werner, Liberty, 6-5

126 -- Trevor Tarsi, Nazareth, d. Alec Gleason, East Brunswick, 5-3 (OT)

132 -- KJ Fenstermacher, Northampton, d. Matt Valli, Warren Hills, 6-4

138 -- Matt Kolonia, Delaware Valley, f. Danny Moran, Northampton, 1:52

145 -- Nick Lombard, Monroe, d. Brock Wilson, Nazareth, 2-1

152 -- Hayden Keleher, Easton, d. Cole Marra, North Hunterdon, 8-5

160 -- Ryan Farber, Northern Lehigh, d. Marquan Payne, Woodbridge, 7-3

170 -- Mikey Labriola, Bethlehem Catholic, tf. Joe Schiele, Morris Hills, 22-6, 4:25

182 -- Travis Stefanik, Nazareth, f. Mike Iodice, Hunterdon Central, 2:27

195 -- Jack Miller, Westfield, d. Carlo Perugini, Liberty, 4-2

220 -- Robert Melise, Phillipsburg, f. Nathan Feyrer, Parkland, 5:24

285 -- Niko Camacho, Bethlehem Catholic, d. Charlie Tordik, North Hunterdon, 3-2

Find more coverage here

Josh Folck may be reached at jfolck@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoshFolck. Find Lehigh Valley high school sports on Facebook.

The Pa. team got the victory.

The 37th annual Easton Lions Club Wrestling All-Star Classic was held on Tuesday night at Easton Area High School.

The Pennsylvania all-star team beat New Jersey's squad 26-21.

Click the links below for full coverage of the event:

Pa. beats N.J. in Easton Lions Club Wrestling All-Star Classic

Beca's Camacho clinches Pa.'s win in Easton Lions Club Classic

Delaware Valley's Kolonia picks up pin at Easton Lions Club Classic

WATCH: Nazareth's Trevor Tarsi wins in OT at Easton Lions Club Classic

Updates recap

Josh Folck may be reached at jfolck@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoshFolck. Find Lehigh Valley high school sports on Facebook.

The charges against John M. Bate were sent to county court following a hearing on Tuesday.

A former Hellertown borough councilman is facing possible trial on charges he stole from a borough fire company via improperly filed time cards.

John M. Bate, 57, of 1600 Ilona Drive, was in district court on Tuesday for his preliminary hearing on theft and related charges stemming from the pay and stipend he received from Dewey Fire Co.

Following the hearing, all of the charges were sent to Northampton County Court. Bate remains free on $5,000 unsecured bail in the case while he awaits trial.

Bate was appointed last year to fill a vacant seat on Hellertown Borough Council. Borough Solicitor Michael Corriere said Bate submitted a letter of resignation the day before he was charged in the theft case, and Bate also resigned as the borough's emergency management coordinator.

Dewey Fire Co. treasurer admits to charges in $395K theft

Bate served as ambulance captain with the fire company at 502 Durham St.

Police allege from Jan. 2, 2011, through October 2015, Bate filled out time cards to cover times when he handled administrative duties for the fire company, but was not present and on shift.

At the same time, Bate received an annual stipend of $1,500, in monthly payments, to cover administrative duties as ambulance captain, police said. Over the four years, Bate improperly claimed 2,810 hours on his time card, totaling $38,427, prosecutors allege.

In an interview with police on Jan. 2, Bate told police the time card entries were for instances where he handled administrative duties.

Bate was responsible for submitting the ambulance service's payroll, including his own. There was no organizational oversight or audit, which allowed the alleged thefts "to occur for an extended period of time," police said.

Police said they began their investigation into the alleged thefts on July 29, 2016. Four days before, Bate was cited for harassment, following an argument with Dewey Fire Co. President Michael Malone at the fire company's hall, records show.

Bate followed Malone as Malone tried to leave an argument, the citation states. Bate was found guilty in absentia of summary harassment.

Last week, the fire company's former treasurer admitted to stealing more than $395,000 from Dewey.

Agnes Patterson pleaded guilty to theft and access device fraud, and is slated to be sentenced May 19. Patterson was treasurer since 2002, and she was the only person to have access to those financial accounts. Patterson spent the money on illegitimate purchases and to fund a gambling habit, prosecutors allege.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

KJ Fenstermacher beat Warren Hills' Matt Valli.

Northampton senior KJ Fenstermacher used a late takedown to clinch a 6-4 win over Warren Hills' Matt Valli on Tuesday night at the Easton Lions Club Wrestling All-Star Classic.

It gave the Pennsylvania team a 6-3 lead over the New Jersey all-stars in a match that Pa. won 26-21.

Watch Fenstermacher earn the win in the video at the top of this post.

Josh Folck may be reached at jfolck@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoshFolck. Find Lehigh Valley high school sports on Facebook.

Charlie Dent, who voted against Obamacare seven years ago, said he won't support the Republicans' health care overhaul bill.

Remove U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent from the list of those likely not to vote for the Republicans' health care overhaul bill.

Dent, R-Lehigh Valley, issued a statement Wednesday night saying he will not support the health care reform bill that Republican leaders hope will replace the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare.

A vote in the U.S. House is set for Thursday.

Dent's announcement came after House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., met with moderate Republicans and congressional leaders in attempts to placate conservatives who threatened to reject the legislation.

Said Dent:

"The American health care system is in need of reform. The Affordable Care Act, which I voted against seven years ago, has failed to live up to the promises of the previous administration.

"Too many Americans have seen their health care costs rise, insurers are fleeing the marketplace, and businesses are struggling under the increased costs and regulations.

"In Pennsylvania the average 2017 premium increase for all individual market plans was 32 percent, and 68 percent of counties have only one or two insurers offering plans on the exchange. Clearly something must be done.

Dent targeted in advance of health care vote

"Over the past few weeks, I have diligently reviewed the American Health Care Act and recently proposed amendments. I have spoken with constituents, leaders in the health care patient and provider community, Republican and Democrat governors, senators, the president and many others. After careful deliberation, I cannot support the bill and will oppose it.

"I believe this bill, in its current form, will lead to the loss of coverage and make insurance unaffordable for too many Americans, particularly for low-to-moderate income and older individuals. We have an important opportunity to enact reforms that will result in real health care transformation -- bringing down costs and improving health outcomes. This legislation misses the mark.

"I hope that the House can step back from this vote and arbitrary deadline to focus on getting health care reform done right to ensure that American families have access to affordable health care."

Jim Deegan may be reached at jdeegan@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @jim_deegan. Find lehighvalleylive on Facebook.

A blind and deaf man suffered an eye injury, and another client was cut on the cheek, police said.

A caregiver at a Lehigh Valley nonprofit agency for special-needs children and adults is accused of injuring two of his clients.

Androw Metri, of the 200 block of Old Forge Drive in Bath, was arraigned Thursday morning on charges of neglect of care, simple assault and harassment.

Metri, 25, is free on $5,000 unsecured bail in the case. An attorney had not yet entered an appearance for Metri.

At the time of the alleged assaults, Metri worked for LifePath Inc., which provides care for special-needs clients in the Lehigh Valley and Bucks, Berks, Delaware and Montgomery counties.

Patient accused of spitting in the eye of St. Luke's nurse

LifePath Inc. is based at 3500 High Point Blvd. in Hanover Township, Northampton County, but the incidents occurred at the business' residential location at 2393 Black River Road in Lower Saucon Township, authorities said.

LifePath spokeswoman Annette Kaiser said Metri no longer works at the company, and that LifePath employees contacted authorities to investigate the incidents.

"LifePath takes all measures possible to ensure our people receive good care," Kaiser said.

Lower Saucon police said they were first called Feb. 19 for a patient injured in LifePath's care.

A man who is blind and deaf and does not communicate was found with a swollen left eye. Police said he was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

At the time, Metri was interviewed by police about the injury and he reportedly denied any involvement.

Township police were then called Feb. 26 for another LifePath patient who became injured.

That patient, a woman, was cut on the cheek while being bathed by Metri, police said, and she was taken to a local hospital for stitches.

Police again interviewed Metri, who initially said he slipped in the shower and must have struck the woman while bracing his fall.

Metri then admitted he had become frustrated and caused the cut on the victim's cheek, police said. Metri told investigators he had been holding her head up with his hands on either side of her face, when he put too much pressure on her head and his nail cut her cheek, according to police.

Asked again then about the man's injury, Metri said the man had been rubbing his eye earlier in the day and Metri wanted to see if the eye was hurting him, police said.

Metri said he put gloves on and started to poke at the victim "and may have pushed harder than he thought," police reported.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

Police said they stopped the car for a stop sign violation.

A motorist was found with methamphetamine and marijuana during a traffic stop in North Catasauqua, police said.

Charged is Timmy Lee Priest, 32, of the 500 block of Eighth Avenue in Bethlehem.

An officer stopped Priest after he allegedly drove through a stop sign at Main and Fourth streets. Police said Priest did not have a valid driver's license and the car's registration came back to a different vehicle.

An officer searched the car and seized 57 grams of methamphetamine, as well as methamphetamine rocks, a small amount of marijuana and a measuring scale.

Pot dealer's home raided after he reports robbery, cops say

Priest is charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and various motor vehicle and traffic violations.

He was arraigned Saturday before District Judge Roy Manwaring, who set bail at 10 percent of $50,000. In lieu of bail, Priest was taken to Northampton County Prison, where he remained Thursday.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

The Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. celebrated its step up the ladder during tits 22nd annual meeting.

Move over Providence-Warwick in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

The Lehigh Valley has worked its way into the top five Northeast markets for economic development, according to the 2016 ranking by the industry publication Site Selection magazine.

The region's 26 economic development projects last year pushed it from No. 6 on the list to No. 5, supplanting Providence-Warwick, which had 21 projects.

Local business leaders celebrated the upgraded ranking Thursday during the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp.'s 22nd annual meeting, held in the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks on South Side Bethlehem.

"We come in right behind metropolitan areas that dwarf us in size," said Don Cunningham, LVEDC president and CEO.

No. 1 on the list is New York-Newark-Jersey City, second is Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, third is Pittsburgh and fourth is Boston-Cambridge-Newton. Providence-Warwick is now sixth, where the Lehigh Valley Metropolitan Statistical Area in Pennsylvania and New Jersey was ranked in 2015.

"We actually had many more projects, but they weren't large enough to qualify for the Site Selection list," Cunningham told about 300 people gathered for Thursday's meeting.

Meet the muscle: Lehigh Valley Auto Show preview

The LVEDC is a public-private partnership for promoting investment in the region. The biggest contribution in its $2.7 million budget is the $155,000 combined from Lehigh and Northampton counties, primarily through a tax on hotel stays, said Michael J. Gigler, an executive with Wells Fargo.

The Lehigh Valley's growth is garnering international notice, Cunningham said. He was just in Toronto two weeks prior talking to industrial and commercial brokers about how the region landed the FedEx Ground processing facility under construction for a summer 2018 opening on former Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority land in Allen Township. Last week it was Tucson to address a group of national real estate consultants, he said.

"We are one of the smallest markets at the table," Cunningham said. "Most of the others there are large markets, which is what we need to view as our competition. The Lehigh Valley punches well above its weight class. Our competition is larger than us and, frankly, spends more money than us."

The LVEDC's members invested a record $625,000 in the agency last year, at a time when Pennsylvania has "dramatically" cut its spending on economic development, marketing and recruiting, said outgoing LVEDC Board of Directors Chairman Steve Kalamar.

All told, the LVEDC says it has tracked 31 business attraction and expansion projects either announced, under construction or completed in the Lehigh Valley in 2016, creating 4,829 jobs and retaining 1,859 existing jobs. Additionally the group helped link businesses to $240 million in financing in 2016, supporting more than a dozen projects that created 1,461 jobs. Among those projects are:

Guardian Life Insurance Co. of America consolidating its corporate headquarters in Hanover Township, Northampton County, retaining 1,600 jobs.

Amazon.com doubling its space in the region to more than 2 million square feet, adding 700 jobs.

Norac, a French bakery products company, establishing its first United States manufacturing facility, in Forks Township, creating 62 jobs.

Mack Trucks investing $70 million in its Lower Macungie Township plant, including a 75,000-square-foot expansion.

Stitch Fix, an online personal shopping service, establishing its first Northeast distribution center, in Lower Nazareth Township, creating 500 jobs.

Tyber Medical, a manufacturer of orthopedic and spinal implants, relocating its corporate headquarters from New Jersey to the Lehigh Valley.

Michelman Steel Enterprises, a steel fabricator, expanding and renovating its Allentown facility.

The region's gross-domestic production in 2016 reached $37 billion, the highest in history and larger than 97 countries and the State of Vermont, the LVEDC says. Manufacturing is the region's top economic sector, making up $5.6 billion -- or 15 percent -- of Lehigh Valley GDP.

The gains follow now-bygone dark times, including the bankruptcy and shuttering of the Bethlehem Steel Corp., whose blast furnaces blazed in Thursday's March sunlight outside the windows of the ArtsQuest Center as the LVEDC members celebrated. Mack Truck had left for South Carolina before marking its return to the Lehigh Valley, where all its trucks for North American distribution and export are built. The changes led to the creation of LVEDC in March 1995, as a bid to market Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton and Northampton and Lehigh counties as a single entity: the Lehigh Valley.

"It's an entity you won't find on a map," Cunningham said, "but a regional identity that would create a new brand to market the amazing assets of this Valley."

Thursday's meeting also offered a chance to welcome new LVEDC board Chairwoman Jane Long, who is chairwoman of the corporate, business and banking group at the law firm Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba.

Looking ahead, Long cast as the four target markets for the Lehigh Valley high-performance manufacturing, high-value business services, life science research and manufacturing and food and beverage processing.

The LVEDC also welcomed new board members Kassie Hilgert, who is president and CEO of ArtsQuest; Silvia Hoffman, president at MKSD Architects; Eric Luftig, a vice president at Victaulic; and Stu Shaw, vice president and chief actuary at Guardian Life Insurance.

In addition to Long, the group's new officers are Vice Chairman Dan McCarthy, from the Lehigh Valley Partnership; Secretary Ed Dougherty, from Lehigh Valley Health Network; and Treasurer Patricia Johnson, from Lehigh University.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

The project was built without taxpayer money, and organizers are still fundraising for the capital campaign.

After making it through some bad weather earlier this year, workers are putting the finishing touches on the new home for the Bethlehem Police Department's Mounted Unit.

The barn and grazing land off Langhorne Avenue have been years in the making, and the police department's four horses -- Grey, Asa, George and Pharaoh -- are set to move in in May.

When the unit was relaunched in 2009, the horses lived at Burnside Plantation. Officials said the historic barn couldn't provide the climate-controlled space needed for the team and its supplies, and the search for a new home began.

"The biggest concerns were the safety, security and the well-being of the horses," said Tom Tenges, president of the nonprofit Friends of the Bethlehem Mounted Police's board of directors.

What made the search more difficult was finding enough open space close to the city's downtown -- so that the horses would have enough land to graze and run, but were close enough to be deployed when needed.

The two-year search included plans to build a stable on Bethlehem's favorite sledding hill, but that was abandoned amid public outcry.

Then, "the Diocese came to our rescue," Tenges said.

Officials kicking up dirt at new home for police horses

The Diocese of Allentown owns land near Holy Saviour Cemetery on Linden Street, and part of it is leased to a farmer for crops. The diocese carved out a 10-acre spot for the Mounted Unit, and the Friends signed a lease for the spot.

The resolution couldn't have come at a better time. Since last summer's groundbreaking, the conditions at Burnside became too dangerous, and last fall the horses were moved to Bay Ridge Stables outside Northampton while waiting for the barn to be completed.

An upgrade in accommodations

Ground was officially broken last July, but construction didn't start until Jan. 9. The Friends of the Bethlehem Police Mounted Unit has been updating construction on its Facebook page.

On a recent tour, the crew from B&D Builders were installing tongue-and-groove paneling on the first floor.

The new barn has seven stalls -- four for Bethlehem's horses and three for guest horses -- as well as an isolation stall for when the horses are ill or injured.

There's plenty of storage space for gear and hay, office space for the officers on the second floor, and bathrooms for the officers and the horses. That includes an indoor washing stall with hot water -- something Burnside did not have, Tenges said.

Thinking ahead, the nonprofit group also roughed in plumbing to add a separate bathroom for when a female officer joins the unit.

The barn, tucked into a quiet residential neighborhood, is minutes away from Bethlehem's downtown, and Tenges said the officers can even ride from the barn to the business district.

Rain earlier in the year posed the most problems for the project, particularly when the foundation work started, according to Tenges. The roof was already on when the area had two snowstorms.

The wood front doors were installed last week, as well as the building's crowning glory -- a cupola with a copper horse weather vane.

"It's just stunning," Tenges said. The group had reluctantly crossed off the cupola when reviewing costs for the project, but a board member ponied up for it.

Safety and security

Security was also a concern, and surveillance cameras at the site are connected to the police department's system and can also be accessed by the officers' cellphones.

"There's constant monitoring," Tenges said, adding that neighbors have promised to keep an eye on things, too.

Tenges was named president of the Friends six years ago, and has served the maximum of two, three-year terms. A new president will come on board later this year, but Tenges' tenure ends as the barn is completed.

Standing in the dry-walled second floor, looking out over what will be fenced-in grazing land, Tenges was ecstatic about the unit's future home.

"I'm just so happy for the guys. They're going to get the home they deserve, and Bethlehem benefits from this, too," he said.

The project was built without taxpayer money, and the nonprofit is still fundraising for the $500,000 capital campaign. They're just under $450,000 now, but "we still got a ways to go," Tenges said.

The nonprofit plans to start a "Name a Post" fundraiser, where for $25 a donor gets a plaque on one of the hundreds of posts to fence-in the grazing fields. That work won't start until the ground warms up a bit.

Tenges said plans for the barn include demonstrations for school kids, as well as teaming up with the Bethlehem parks department for programs in the summer.

The horses are slated to move in in early May. A special ribbon-cutting for donors is planned for later in May, and then an open house fair with food, rides and demonstrations for the public is planned for later in the summer.

"Everybody will be welcome," Tenges said.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

Sheldon Krock was free on bail in a Northampton County DUI case when he crashed on Route 22 last fall, killing a passenger.

A man charged with driving drunk and causing a Route 22 crash that killed one of his six passengers is now facing trial in the case.

Sheldon L. Krock is seen in a photograph dated Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016, from his Pennsylvania State Police Megan's Law profile. (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleyliv.com)

Sheldon Krock, of Easton, was in court Friday for his preliminary hearing on homicide-by-vehicle and related charges stemming from the August 2016 crash that killed Renee Tenasse.

Following the hearing, all charges against Krock were sent to Lehigh County Court, where he now faces trial.

Krock has been held in jail in lieu of $200,000 bail in the crash case, and on Friday he again asked for lower bail in order to get out of jail.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Richard Director argued Krock is a convicted sex offender with a lengthy criminal record who was free on bail in a prior DUI at the time of the crash.

"I don't think it's appropriate for him to be out," Director said.

District Judge Michael Faulkner agreed, and kept bail at the same amount. Following the ruling, Krock asked if he could speak to the court.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Faulkner said.

A group of Tenasse's friends and family were in court for the hearing. They declined to comment after the hearing, but spoke to each other about the trauma Tenasse's children continue to suffer since the crash.

Trucker witnesses crash

Prosecutors said the night of Aug. 19, Krock was traveling westbound on Route 22, near Airport Road in Hanover Township, Lehigh County, when he struck a Chevrolet Cruz with his Ford F-150 pickup truck.

There were four adults and three children in Krock's truck at the time: three adults sitting on the cab's front bench with Krock driving, and an adult and three children on the back bench.

Truck driver Michael Johnson Sr. was driving his regular route that night, transporting cement from Keystone Cement in Bath to Maryland.

Johnson testified cars were passing him in the right lane of Route 22, before the road narrowed to a single lane near the Fullerton Avenue exit and that he had several car-lengths of space in front of his truck.

Johnson saw Krock's truck collide with the Chevrolet, leading the truck to roll over several times and land on its hood.

"I've never seen a car flip a pickup truck so much," Johnson said.

Johnson said he jumped out of his rig and ran to help people pulling passengers out of Krock's truck through the cab's rear window.

Johnson previously worked for the Maryland Department of Transportation, and had seen fatal crashes before, he said. But he had never heard screaming like that of Tenasse's three children, ages 7, 4 and 2.

"I've never heard kids screaming like that...you could hear the pure terror," he said.

Johnson helped pull out one of the children and one of the adults, 52-year-old Robert Pierce, who had been sitting in the cab's front bench with Krock and Tenasse.

A dozen hurt in deadly 4-car Route 22 crash, state police say

The 31-year-old Tenasse was partially thrown from the truck out of the passenger side window, and troopers freed her from the wreckage and began administering first aid, Trooper Joseph Mitzak testified.

Johnson said he sat with Pierce on the highway as troopers tried to save Tenasse's life. She was pronounced dead at the crash scene.

The Lehigh County Coroner's Office ruled the mother of four's death an accident caused by injuries suffered in the crash.

Pierce suffered a broken pelvis and severe injuries to one of his feet, the trooper testified. Pierce still has trouble walking, and was not in court on Friday to testify.

Drinking a 'Natty Daddy'

Authorities said passengers in Krock's truck reported there was an argument before the crash, but they did not detail what it was about.

When troopers arrived at the "chaotic" crash scene, Krock was trapped in the overturned truck, and was belted in the driver's seat, Mitzak testified.

Krock smelled like he had been drinking, the trooper said, and reportedly told police he drank a "Natty Daddy" before driving.

Fund created to bury mother of 4 who died in Route 22 crash

Mitzak said the Chevrolet was totaled in the crash, but the driver and passenger were not injured.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

See where to take the kids to find all of the Easter season fun.

While Easter is still a few weeks away, many communities are planning to celebrate spring and the holiday with egg hunts and community celebrations.

Easter is Sunday, April 16. Here's a list of Easter-related events:

April 1: Noon to 4 p.m, Stanton Grange, 16 County Route 618, Clinton Township, will host a Hop To It! Spring Celebration event with a vendor and craft show along with free Easter Egg Hunts at 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Bring baskets.

April 2: 8 to 10 a.m., Kiwanis Club of Hackettstown is hosting Breakfast with the Easter Bunny at Applebee's at 225 Mountain Ave. in Hackettstown. Cost: $10; Information: kiwanisclubofhackettstown@gmail.com

April 2: 1 p.m., the Richmond United Methodist Church Easter Egg Hunt, will be held at the church, 8538 Delaware Drive and Rt. 611, in Washington Township, Northampton County. Three age categories: 0-3, 4-6 and 7-10. Light refreshments will be served.

April 2: 11 a.m. -1 p.m., Clearview Park, Abington Road and Robin Way, Bethlehem . Hosted by Calvary Wesleyan Church. Candy, food, prizes. 610-866-1388.

April 7: 6:15 p.m. Bethlehem Township Community Center, 2900 Farmersville Road. Area surrounding the community center will be divided for toddlers and elementary age children. Bring Easter basket and meet the Easter Bunny. 610-332-1900

April 8: 9 to 10 a.m. April 8, Forks Township Recreational Center, 500 Zucksville Road (Amphitheater). Prizes awarded at each age level and every child walks away with a goodie bag. Age categories are 2-4, 5-7, and 8-10. Cost $2

April 8: 1 p.m., Williams Township Fire Co., 2500 Morgan Hill Road. Hosted by the Ladies Auxiliary.

April 8: 2 p.m. Washington Borough Annual Easter Egg Hunt at Boro Park (baseball field). Information: 908-689-3600, ext. 136 (Rain date April 9).

April 8: 10 a.m., Green Pond United Methodist Church, 4411 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem Township. For children ages 1 to 10 and their families. Two egg hunts, one for younger children and one for older children. Crafts, snacks, and a special appearance from the Easter Bunny. Register by Saturday, April 1. Register your child by emailing greenpondumcyouth@rcn.com or by calling the church office at 610-253-2731 during business hours (Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-2 p.m.).

April 8: 1 p.m., 42nd annual Egg Hunt at Quakertown Farmers Market, 201 Station Road, Quakertown. Bring a basket; all participants receive gift. Three age categories; Easter Bunny and Just Born PEEP visit. 215-536-4115.

For ages 2-10, meet in the gym.  Information: 610-865-4600, childrensdirector@fbc-bethlehem.org.

April 8: 1 to 4 p.m., Tatamy Borough Annual Easter Egg Hunt at Braden's Park, 3520 Sullivan Trail, Forks Township. (Rain date April 9).

April 8: 10 a.m. to noon or 1 to 3 p.m., Wild Eggs with Wildlands at Wildlands Conservancy, 3701 Orchid Place, Lower Macungie Township. Live rabbits, craft and story time, egg decorating, outdoor egg hunt, live animal egg hunt, cookie decorating, more. Registration required; $15 per child. wildlandspa.org.

April 8: 10 a.m. Lopatcong Township Easter Egg Hunt 2017 Lopatcong Pavilion, 9 Wildew Ave. Toddler thru 9 years Lopatcong Township residents only. (Rain date: April 15) 908-859-3355, ext. 224.

April 8: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Community Easter Event, the Outlets at Sands Bethlehem, 77 Sands Blvd., Bethlehem. Easter Egg Hunt for Infant to 4 years at 10 a.m.; 5-7 years at 10:30 a.m. and 8-10 at 11 a.m. Register a half hour before the event. Arts and crafts plus entertainment by Lehigh Valley Academy Band and Choir.

April 8: 9 a.m., Easter Egg Hunt at Maloney Stadium, Phillipsburg, sponsored by the Exchange Club of Warren County. Gates open at 8:30 a.m. Open to children pre-kindergarten to second grade. (Rain date April 15.)

April 9: 2 p.m., Salem Bible Church Community Easter Egg Hunt, 8031 Salem Bible Church Road, Upper Milford Township. For 1- to 10-year-olds; 5,000+ eggs, prizes. (Rain date April 15)

Easter themed event with scavenger hunt, crafts, snacks, photos, and Scrunchy the Bear. For 12 and under.

April 14: 10 a.m., Wilson Borough Block Watch Egg Hunt at Meuser Park, Northampton and 22nd  streets, Wilson Borough.

April 14: 10 a.m., Palmer Township Easter Egg Hunt at Palmer Elementary School, 3050 Green Pond Road.

April 14: 10 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt in Dimmick Park, Hellertown, sponsored by the Hellertown Historical Society

April 15: 1 p.m. Jordon United Church of Christ, 1837 Church Road, South Whitehall Township, outside weather permitting. For 12 and under. Entertainment,  snacks will be available. Egg hunt is free and open to the entire Lehigh Valley community. Information: 610-395-2218, church@jordanucc.org.

April 15: 10:30 a.m., Quaker Steak & Lube, Route 22, Phillipsburg (and other N.J. locations) Easter Egg Hunt, Bring your own basket and collect colorful eggs full of goodies hidden throughout the restaurant.

April 15: 12:45-3 p.m. Easter Eggstravaganza, College Hill Moravian Church, 72 W. Laurel Street, Bethlehem. Snacks, crafts, Easter story, Easter Bunny, egg hunt. Register at 610-867-8291 or church@collegehillmoravian.org

April 16: 1 p.m. Peeps Hunt, ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks. 1 p.m. for ages 3 and under, 1:30 p.m. for children ages 4-7; 2 p.m. for children ages 8 and older. Information: steelstacks.org.

Have one to add? Email KJ at kjfrantz@lehighvalleylive.com or leave information in the comments section below. Follow lehighvalleylive.com on Twitter at @lehighvalley. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

Family members cleaning out the house of a deceased relative found the 81 mm shell, township police said.

A Lehigh Township road was closed for three hours Friday after a Japanese mortar shell was found in a shed, township police said.

Family members were cleaning out the home of a deceased relative, when they found the shell in a shed in the 4200 block of Hawthorn Road, township police Chief Scott Fogel said in a news release.

The family called police at 12:15 p.m., and township police, fire and EMS responded to the home and set up a safe area around the device.

Northampton County Emergency Management also responded, and provided information about the 81 mm Japanese mortar shell to the Bethlehem bomb squad, police said.

Authorities said it was difficult to determine if the shell was live or inert, so it was moved to a safe location and detonated by the bomb squad. It turned out to be inert, Fogel said.

Hawthorn Road was closed for more three hours during the process, and a nearby home was evacuated as a precaution, police said.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

Paul Prieto was pronounced dead Saturday morning.

An Easton man has been identified as the person killed in an early Saturday morning shooting in Allentown that injured two other people.

Paul Prieto, 28, of the 100 block of South 13th Street, died from a gunshot wound to the body, the Lehigh County coroner's office said.

Prieto's cause of death was ruled a homicide, and an autopsy is scheduled for Monday, the coroner's office said.

1 dead, 2 injured after gunman opens fire in Allentown parking lot

Prieto was one of three people shot in the incident in the American Plaza Shopping Center off American Parkway, between Hamilton and Linden streets.

Police said a gunman opened fire the east side of the center's parking lot near North Second and Court streets. An officer shot at the gunman, but he fled in a vehicle and is at-large, police said.

Prieto was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest in Salisbury Township, where he was pronounced dead. The two other victims were taken to local hospitals for treatment; police have not released their identities.

Police are looking for the gunman, and ask anyone who has information about him or the incident to call the detective bureau at 610-437-7721.

Friends and family took to social media to mourn Prieto.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

The study suggests more than $200 million a year in highway construction funds are being diverted unconstitutionally to state police.

State police gathered at the Pennsylvania State Police Troop M Headquarters in this file photo. A new study suggests more than $200 million in state highway funding may unconstitutionally be given to pay for state police coverage. (Chris Post | Lehighvalleylive.com file photo) 

A new study suggests that more than $200 million a year in highway construction funds are being diverted unconstitutionally to subsidize the Pennsylvania State Police.

A state Legislative Budget and Finance Committee report this week calculated the "appropriate and justifiable" level of highway funding for the state police at $532.8 million.

That's based on last fiscal year, when Gov. Tom Wolf and lawmakers approved $755 million in highway funds for the state police.

You can read the entire report here, or just the report highlights here.

Under the state constitution, motorist fees and fuel taxes are strictly for highway construction, repair and safety.

Those dollars help underwrite the estimated $600 million a year it costs for free, full-time state police coverage to 2.5 million residents in municipalities that don't pay for a local police force.

This year Wolf announced he wants to charge a $25 per resident service fee for municipalities that don't have their own police departments, rasing an estimated $63 million.

Officials in Lehigh Valley municipalities who would face the potential fee have said the $25 amount is a bargain for top-notch service from state police troopers.

Lehigh Valley officials: Proposed $25 fee a 'steal' for state police coverage

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

Warren County authorities are seeking Joseph John on a narcotics warrant.

Joseph John (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com) 

Joseph A. John, 34, is wanted on a narcotics charge under a warrant dated Dec. 5, according to the Warren County Prosecutor's Office.

John, whose last known address is in the 200 block of East Kleinhans Street in Easton, is described as 6 feet 1 inch tall and 310 pounds with brown eyes and black hair.

The prosecutor's office asks anyone with information about John to contact investigators via a tip line at 908-475-6643, the fugitive unit at 908-475-6272 or via fugitive@co.warren.nj.us.

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

A 29-year-old woman is charged with receiving stolen property.

A woman charged with receiving cellphones stolen from a Verizon store has given up her right to a preliminary hearing and her case is the first of possibly several to reach Northampton County Court.

Patricia Calcano, 29, is accused of possessing four Samsung S7 Edge cellphones with a total value of $2,940, according to court records. She had the phones between last Oct. 29 and Nov. 16 in her Allentown home; the phones belonged to Verizon Wireless Nation, police said.

Court papers now show her crime took place Oct. 29, the same date Nadir Chandler is charged with stealing cellphones from the Verizon store on Town Center Boulevard in Forks Township.

Calcano was arraigned March 3 before District Judge Jacqueline Taschner on a felony count of receiving stolen property. She waived her preliminary hearing on Friday before Taschner and her formal arraignment is set 9 a.m. May 25 in county court.

She was living in the 200 block of St. George Street in Allentown, but she is charged in the district court that covers Forks and Palmer townships.

Most of the court records connected to a crime spree involving several Lehigh Valley cellphone stores since last fall have been sealed. A task force is investigating five cellphone store robberies from late October through February in the Lehigh Valley and northwest New Jersey, as well as a homicide and abduction in late November reportedly tied to the Forks case.

Cellphone store suspect soon to return

While clerks in the district and county courts wouldn't be specific on Monday, it appears the papers remain sealed, so Calcano's exact role remains unclear -- as is why she was charged where she was. She remains free on $15,000 unsecured bail.

Forks police Chief Greg Dorney declined to answer Monday when asked why Calcano is charged in an Oct. 29 crime and if she was present at the Forks store when the theft happened, referring calls to Assistant District Attorney Patricia Mulqueen. She's heading a multijurisdictional task force into the crimes and couldn't immediately be reached Monday morning.

Calcano also gave up her right to an attorney, court papers say. She could not immediately be reached for comment.

Three other suspect -- Vaughn Felix, 26, of Easton; Greg Lewis, 26, of Wilson Borough, and Eric Watson, 25, of Allentown -- face charges from various parts of the investigation but have not gone forward yet with preliminary hearings, all of them being continued from their original dates. They remain jailed in lieu of bail of $100,000 or more.

Chandler, 25, formerly of Bethlehem, is charged with theft from the Forks Verizon store and didn't fight extradition in Georgia, where he recently served time in an unrelated case. He is expected to be returned this week to Northampton County to face arraignment.

No one has been charged in the robberies in South Whitehall and Lopatcong townships, the killing or the abduction. Authorities have previously said all the crimes are related.

Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

Robert Jourdain knew he was getting a minimum sentence of 12 years, but the maximum sentence was up to the judge.

An Easton man who admitted buying the ammunition used in a Lehigh Valley killing spree that claimed three people now faces the maximum sentence for his crime.

Robert Jourdain's minimum sentence was capped at 12 years under the terms of his guilty plea deal.

Jourdain admitted buying the ammunition used by gunman Todd West to kill Kory Ketrow, Francine E. Ramos and Trevor D. Gray on July 5, 2015.

The maximum sentence, though, was up to Lehigh County Judge James Anthony, and on Monday the judge sentenced Jourdain to 12 to 40 years in state prison, the most years allowed by law, for conspiracy to commit third-degree murder.

The sentence was handed down after Jourdain apologized to the families of the three people killed in the July 5, 2015, crime spree that spanned from Easton to Allentown.

Turning to face the courtroom audience, the shackled Jourdain said he hoped the families would be able to move forward from the devastating and senseless killings.

"I apologize for my part in this. Can't take it back," he said. "I'm not a perfect person. I made a mistake."

Rich Bader, whose family took in Ketrow, said he was giving Jourdain the benefit of the doubt, and that Jourdain didn't realize what was going to happen that night.

"I hope you spend these next few years very wisely," Bader said. "I think you made some mistakes. You have this one opportunity to turn your life around."

Bader said he hoped Jourdain would remember the words of the victims' families.

"Think about what you did, what you took from us," he said.

First Assistant District Attorney Steve Luksa said the shootings may not have occurred if Jourdain didn't buy the ammunition that night, and his actions were the first of a series of dominoes to fall.

West of Elizabeth, N.J., was charged with seven killings in all -- the three in the Lehigh Valley and four before that in New Jersey. West previously admitted to randomly gunning down Ketrow in Easton, and Ramos and Gray in Allentown.

Outrage at murderer's words: 'I just wanted to kill them'

In exchange for West's guilty plea to three counts of first-degree murder, prosecutors dropped the death penalty. West was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences without the chance of parole.

Jourdain bought a 50-count box of .38-caliber bullets about 2:30 a.m. July 5, 2015, at a Lower Nazareth Township Wal-Mart.

There is no evidence Jourdain was threatened by West to purchase the ammunition West ultimately used, prosecutors previously said.

A half-hour after the ammunition was purchased, West shot Ketrow. By 4 a.m., Allentown police found Ramos and Gray gunned down at Sixth and Greenleaf streets.

West has said he chose the victims at random.

The alleged getaway driver, Kareem Mitchell, is still awaiting trial in his case in Lehigh County. A trial date is slated for April 26.

Mitchell, of Newark, previously told investigators that the night of July 4, 2015, he was giving Jourdain a ride with his 2-year-old son to Easton, and West, whom he had never met before, came with them. Prosecutors said Jourdain and West knew each other.

After dropping off the child, the trio went to Allentown so West could get a haircut, then went to an after-hours club, according to police.

MORE: Easton man charged with two others in Allentown murders

After purchasing the ammunition, the trio was driving in Easton, when West spotted Ketrow. West told investigators Ketrow looked tired as he was walking along Lehigh Street, and that he was going to "help" Ketrow.

After killing Ketrow, West opened fire at a Palmer Township woman stopped at a traffic light at Third and Spring Garden streets in Easton. West hit Helene Barone's car as she sped away, but Barone and her passenger escaped uninjured.

As for his Allentown victims, at his plea hearing West said he killed the pair because "I just wanted to kill them."

Mitchell drove the Mercedes SUV the entire night, until it was disabled by a damaged wheel.

Eventually, Mitchell parked the damaged SUV in Allentown, bought a bus ticket back to northern New Jersey and walked around Allentown with the other two before taking a bus back home.

Police said West and Jourdain then robbed three men in separate incidents in Allentown, injuring two of the victims.

The pair were arrested after an Allentown officer saw them near North Morris and West Washington streets wearing clothes similar to those of two armed robbery suspects, police said.

Investigators found a bag with 18 .38-caliber casings and the box of the remaining ammunition.

The families of West's victims are suing Wal-Mart, claiming the employees in Lower Nazareth Township failed to confirm if Jourdain was at least 21 years old when he went to buy the bullets. Jourdain was 20 at the time.

Walmart has argued in court that the .38-caiber ammunition can be used in rifles, and rifle ammunition can be sold to customers who are 18 or older.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

A 33-year-old New York man is accused of sexual assault on an 11-year-old on 2 different days.

As a 33-year-old man raped an 11-year-old girl, the girl's family called police and reported her missing, authorities said.

Sandro Zhinin, of Brooklyn, New York, is accused of traveling to the Lehigh Valley three times to sexually assault the girl, whom he met online.

Man, 33, traveled to Lehigh Valley to rape girl, troopers say

The third time Zhinin drove to the area, this past Saturday, he was met by troopers from the Bethlehem barracks at a playground where he had arranged to meet the girl, authorities said.

Zhinin was arrested and is charged with rape of a child, statutory sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of a minor and criminal use of a cellphone.

He was sent to Lehigh County Jail in lieu of $500,000 bail.

The girl told investigators she met someone known as "Sam" on the website Meet Me. They communicated through Skype and Snapchat,  and eventually arranged to meet in person, state police said. The girl reportedly told Zhinin she was 11.

On March 4, the two met at the Fourth Street Park in Northampton Borough and Zhinin took the girl to the Red Roof Inn off Airport Road, state police said. The girl told Zhinin she was too young to have sex, and when he asked her if she wanted to have sex, she said no, according to police.

Zhinin then raped the girl, and later drove her back near her home, state police said.

Zhinin picked up the girl again on March 11 at the same park, and took her to the Scottish Inn, also off Airport Road, state police said.

Again, the girl said she did not want to have sex, and that she tried to get off the bed and kicked Zhinin before he raped her twice, according to state police. When the girl looked at her phone, she saw missed calls and texts from her family, who called police and reported her missing, troopers said.

When the girl got home, she told police she was sexually assaulted by a man she only knew as "Sam," prosecutors said. The girl had injuries consistent with what she reported to police.

Zhinin "panicked," according to police, drove the girl close to her house and dropped her off. Troopers found Zhinin's credit card information that he used to rent the room at the Scottish Inn, and later found he used his driver's license and credit card to rent the room at the Red Roof Inn.

The girl identified Zhinin from a photo lineup March 13, troopers said.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

The group was foiled by the great niece of one of their victims, police said.

Three men behind a driveway scam in Lower Saucon Township were foiled when the great niece of one of the victims confronted them and called the police, prosecutors said.

Richard Attenborough, 19; John Williams Jr., 57; and Stevee Castle-Lagerquist, 25, were all arraigned Monday on charges stemming from the alleged scam.

Williams, of Troy, New York, is charged with theft by deception, receiving stolen property and conspiracy. He was sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $10,000 bail.

Attenborough, of Bethlehem, is charged with two counts of conspiracy and two summary counts of peddling/soliciting without a license. He is free on $5,000 unsecured bail.

Castle-Lagerquist, of Baldwinsville, New York, is charged with conspiracy to commit theft, and was free after posting 10 percent of $5,000 bail.

Attorney John Francis Rooney V represents the trio. He declined to comment about the cases.

Lower Saucon Township police said they were called by a couple's great niece on Jan. 27 for a report of suspicious activity.

The woman reported she drove to the relatives' home on Springtown Hill Road and found four men, a red pickup truck and a white dump truck there.

The woman confronted the group, and one of the men told her his father told them to do driveway paving at the residence, police said. When the woman said police were on their way, the men fled, but not before she got the license plate of the dump truck, police said.

The plate number was traced to Tri State Paving in Bethlehem, which is the same address for Attenborough, police said.

The woman's relatives, who are 81 and 78, said the group showed up at their house unexpectedly and claimed they were hired to do work on the driveway. Police said the couple was asked for $6,000, and the group got a check for $4,500, which was immediately cashed after the group fled, according to police.

Two days later another township resident, who lives on Drifting Drive, reported being victim to a similar scam on Jan. 26, with a group in a red pickup truck and a white dump truck.

This time five men were at the property, according to police, and they took a check for $800, dumped asphalt millings on the driveway and then left. The 87-year-old man put an immediate stop payment on the check, police said.

In an interview with police, Attenborough reportedly admitted there was no intent to do the driveway work after the group got the payments. Attenborough also told police his "uncle," Williams, was at the victims' homes at the time, police said.

Video cameras at Wells Fargo bank caught Castle-Lagerquist trying to cash the $800 check on Jan. 29, police said.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.