Pennsylvania city employee planted noose at own desk: police

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (WPHL) — An employee who works for the City of Allentown is now facing criminal charges after allegedly planting a noose at her desk in January.

The Allentown Police Department announced charges against LaTarsha Brown during a press conference Monday afternoon. She faces two misdemeanors: tampering with or fabricating physical evidence and false reports to law enforcement authorities.

The investigation began on January 10, 2025. According to the Allentown Police Department, LaTarsha Brown arrived at her office that day on the third floor of City Hall at approximately 7:11 a.m.

Less than a half hour later at approximately 7:38 a.m., she notified police that she discovered what she believed to be a noose on her desk.

During the investigation, police say they reviewed video surveillance and building access control records to identify any city employees on the third floor between when Brown left for work on January 9 and when she arrived on January 10. Police interviewed those employees, and asked each of them to provide a cheek swab for DNA testing, if needed. According to the Allentown Police Department, every employee agreed, except for Brown.

“Initially cooperative, Ms. Brown later requested that the investigation be discontinued,” said Stephen Milkovitis, Captain of the Criminal Investigations Division.

On January 14, the noose was submitted to the Pennsylvania State Police crime lab for DNA testing.

On January 24, the Lehigh County District Attorney’s office approved a search warrant for Brown’s DNA. A sample was obtained that same day.

On January 27, Brown’s cheek swab was submitted to the regional Pennsylvania State Police crime lab in Bethlehem for comparison with the DNA profiles recovered from the noose.

On March 10, the Forensic DNA Division of the Pennsylvania State Police’s written report stated that Brown’s DNA matched the profiles obtained from both the outer surface and inner-knotted portion of the noose after it was taken apart. According to the Allentown Police Department, no one else’s DNA profile was found on the noose.

According to Allentown Police Chief Charles Roca, Brown is still employed by the city.

As of Monday afternoon, the Allentown Police Department has no further comment on the investigation.