Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
- City employee LaTarsha Brown was charged with fabricating noose incident at her desk.
- DNA evidence linked Brown to the noose, sparking protests and demands for change.
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A city hall employee in Pennsylvania was charged with planting a noose at her desk in January, according to police.
LaTarsha Brown is charged with tampering with or fabricating physical evidence and false reports to law enforcement, Allentown Chief of Police Charles Roca said Monday.
"Today, we're even more surprised to learn that it was likely fabricated by the employee herself," said Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk.
The Allentown mayor believes the incident has helped bring the conversation over inclusion to the forefront at City Hall.
"That has helped lead conversations in City Hall about what it means to be inclusive. About what it means to respect each other's employment, and that will continue," Tuerk said. "I can't even begin to comment on what would drive somebody to do something like this."
Police said Brown remains employed by the city at this time. Brown is also a member of the Allentown School Board.
Allentown leaders would not comment on the future of Brown's employment status with the city.
According to police, Brown reported finding what appeared to be a noose on her desk in her third-floor office at City Hall around 7:30 a.m. on Jan. 10. Responding police collected video and building access records from the time Brown left work on Jan. 9 and her 7:11 a.m. arrival on Jan. 10 to attempt to identify who placed the item on her desk.
Investigators interviewed all employees, and all agreed to provide a buccal swab for DNA testing except for Brown, Capt. Steve Milkovits said.
Milkovits said Brown was initially cooperative with the police investigation but later requested that it be discontinued.
The noose was submitted to Pennsylvania State Police for DNA testing on Jan. 14, according to Milkovits. A search warrant for Brown's DNA was approved and executed on Jan. 24. Three days later, it was submitted for comparison.
Milkovits said a state police report was released on March 10 indicating that Brown's DNA matched swabs of the outer surface and inner-knotted portion of the noose. He added no other employee's DNA was found on the noose.
When asked about Brown's motive, Roca said, "At this point, we're not going to discuss that."
The incident led to protests and demands for change at Allentown City Hall in January. Josie Lopez, a community organizer and friend of Brown, claimed Monday that Brown has faced discrimination and retaliation in the past and believes her friend is innocent.
"This is not just an attack on LaTarsha. This is a warning to anyone in Allentown who dares to stand up against injustice," Lopez said. "This is a smear campaign. This is retaliation. Let me be clear. LaTarsha Brown is innocent. LaTarsha Brown deserves justice."
According to Lopez, Brown walked into her office on Jan. 10 and found an item on her desk that appeared to be a noose. "That is a fact," Lopez said. Lopez added that Brown has admitted to touching the noose.
"Yet, instead of focusing on who put it there, they are trying to turn this against her, as if she is responsible for the very act of hate committed against her," Lopez said. "That is not just false. It is an outrageous and deliberate attempt to discredit her."
Lopez said Brown was never offered security or protection after the incident and claimed Brown was never treated as a victim.
"City Hall did not follow any visible protocol to ensure her safety or well-being," Brown said. "Instead, they let a hate crime turn into an attack on her character."
