City employee accused of planting noose on own desk at a Pennsylvania city hall
An Allentown, Pennsylvania city employee has been arrested following a months-long investigation after she allegedly falsely reported finding a noose on her desk. LaTarsha Brown, a city employee, made a report on January 10 stating that she found a noose on her desk when she arrived for work at City Hall. This sparked a criminal investigation to identify the person responsible for placing the noose on her desk.
During the investigation, 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 January 9 and her arrival on the morning of January 10. Each employee was interviewed and asked to provide a buccal swab for DNA testing, if needed. Brown initially cooperated but later requested that the investigation be discontinued. However, her DNA sample was obtained through a search warrant after the noose was submitted to the Pennsylvania State Police crime lab for DNA testing.
Forensic reports issued on March 10 confirmed that Brown’s DNA matched the DNA found on the noose, with no other person’s DNA profile found on the evidentiary items involved in the investigation. As a result, Brown is facing charges including tampering with or fabricating physical evidence and false reports to law enforcement authorities. She is scheduled for a preliminary court hearing on April 22.
Allentown Police Chief Charles Roca could not comment on the future of Brown’s employment but confirmed that she is still currently employed by the city. The motive behind Brown’s actions remains undisclosed at this time. Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk described the incident as serious and expressed gratitude for the thorough investigation conducted by Allentown PD, Pennsylvania State Police, and the FBI.
This case draws parallels to that of actor Jussie Smollett, who was originally convicted of orchestrating a hate crime in Chicago in 2019 but had his charges overturned by the Illinois Supreme Court in November 2024. Smollett had reported a racist and homophobic attack by two men wearing ski masks, but subsequent investigations revealed inconsistencies in his story.
Overall, the Allentown community remains committed to maintaining a safe and welcoming workplace, despite the challenges posed by incidents like this. The city continues to work closely with law enforcement to ensure justice is served in cases of false reports and tampering with evidence.
