Latest news with #LaTarshaBrown
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Girl, Bye! This Black Politician Allegedly Staged Her Own Hate Crime
In a crossover episode no one ever imagined, Fox drama 'Empire' meets the Allentown City Hall after one of it's employees was just accused of fabricating an alleged hate crime from January. Now, everything is coming to light, and LaTarsha Brown is at the center of it all. On Monday (March 24), Allentown, Pa. Chief of Police Charles Roca announced Brown has been charged with tampering with or fabricating physical evidence and false reports to law enforcement, according to the New York Post. This comes just two months after she claimed a noose was deliberately placed on her work desk in City Hall. As you can expect, the shocking January revelation sent civil rights groups and several government agencies into a frenzy. The Morning Call first reported a deep investigation into the matter was underway. Community activist Pas Simpson even called for the FBI to take over the Allentown Police Department's investigation. 'It has to go federal because this is a hate crime,' he said during a January rally. But now, it seems the culprit behind the hate crime is none other than the alleged victim herself. During the investigation, every employee who had access to the floor where the noose was found was asked to submit their DNA, according to Capt. Steve Milkovits. 'Every employee agreed, except for Ms. Brown,' he said during a press conference before adding, 'Initially cooperative, Ms. Brown requested that the investigation be discontinued.' That's when Brown's alleged scheme started to fall apart. She allegedly made 'vague statements and gave deceptive answers' to police during the probe, according to an affidavit obtained by the Morning Call. And to make matters even worse, when her DNA was finally received through a court order, officials found a match. On March 10, investigators found Brown's DNA matched with swabs taken from the outer surface and inner knotted portion of the noose, reported. No one else's tested DNA was a match. At the same time, officials couldn't connect anyone on office security footage to the alleged crime, forcing all eyes back on Brown. Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk said the charges against Brown were 'shocking.' He continued adding, 'It's doubly shocking that an employee would— that she would have fabricated this incident.' Her alleged hoax draws comparisons to that of actor and singer Jussie Smollett, who in 2020 alleged he was physically attacked by multiple racist white men, as The Root previously reported. A formal investigation into the matter found Smollett made up the attack. He was eventually sentenced to five years behind bars despite maintaining his innocence to this day. For now, Brown gets to keep her job as a City Hall employee and her role on the Allentown School Board, reported. She is scheduled for a preliminary court hearing on April 22. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Fox News
25-03-2025
- Fox News
City employee accused of planting noose on her own desk at Pennsylvania city hall in alleged staged hate crime
A Pennsylvania city employee has been arrested following a months-long investigation after she allegedly falsely reported finding a noose on her desk. During a news conference on Monday, the Allentown Police Department announced the arrest of city employee LaTarsha Brown, who police said made a report on Jan. 10, after she reported finding a noose on her desk when she arrived for work at City Hall. A criminal investigation was initiated following Brown's report to identify the person responsible for placing the noose on her desk. During the investigation, police said video surveillance and building access control records were reviewed to identify city employees present on the third floor of City Hall between the time Brown left work on the afternoon of Jan. 9 and her arrival on the morning of Jan. 10. Each employee was interviewed, police said, and was asked if they would provide a buccal swab for DNA testing, if needed. Police said every city employee agreed, except for Brown, who officers said was "initially cooperative" but later requested that the investigation be discontinued. Days later, Brown's DNA sample was obtained through a search warrant after the noose was submitted to the Pennsylvania State Police crime lab for DNA testing. Police determined that Brown's DNA matched the DNA found on the noose, according to a forensic report issued on March 10. "No other person's DNA profile was found on the evidentiary items involved in this investigation," police said in a release. As a result of the findings, police said that Brown is now facing charges in connection with the noose investigation, including tampering with or fabricating physical evidence and false reports to law enforcement authorities. When asked about the future of Brown's employment, Allentown Police Chief Charles Roca said he could not comment but that Brown is still currently employed by the city. Roca added that Brown's motive for her actions could not be discussed. Brown is scheduled for a preliminary court hearing on April 22. Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk told Fox News Digital that this was a "serious incident" and that they are working closely with law enforcement. "This was a serious incident that deeply impacts employees who are dedicated to serving Allentown, and we're praying for peace for all affected," Tuerk's office shared in a statement. "We're grateful for the work of Allentown PD, Pennsylvania State Police, and the FBI for their thorough investigation. We remain committed to a safe, welcoming workplace in our city." Brown's case mimics the case of actor Jussie Smollett, who reported to Chicago police that he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack by two men wearing ski masks in January 2019. The "Empire" actor was originally convicted of orchestrating the hate crime, but after filing a petition, Smollett had his charges overturned by the Illinois Supreme Court in November 2024 as a judge ruled he should not have been charged a second time due to a deal he reached with prosecutors and that it violated his rights. Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to
