Man charged in attack on bystander who helped police

An Easton man is charged with instigating an assault and robbing a man who had helped police control an unruly crowd June 25 in Allentown, according to court records.

Carlton Lyle Walker, 56, of the 800 block of Northampton Street, is charged with robbery, attempted aggravated assault and conspiracy. He was arraigned Wednesday before District Judge Todd Heffelfinger and sent to Lehigh County Jail under $75,000 bail.

According to court records: Allentown police were making an arrest amid a crowd around 9:20 p.m. June 25 in the 100 block of North Seventh Street.

Fungal Mugwindri, a passerby, was trying to keep the disorderly crowd away from police when Walker and other unidentified men began to assault him. Mugwindri suffered multiple facial fractures and required surgery after the assault.

In an interview with police from St. Luke’s Hospital-Sacred Heart the next day, Mugwindri described how after police cleared the area, three men came up to him while he was standing in front of the 7-Eleven on North Seventh Street and attacked him. During the attack, Mugwindri dropped his phone and a fourth man snatched it.

Police reviewed security camera footage of the incident and saw three men beating Mugwindri with their fists. The fourth man, who authorities identified as Walker, instigated the assault and grabbed the phone.

Footage from police body cameras and patrol car dashcams showed the four men were present when Mugwindri was helping police with the crowd.

When police interviewed Walker on Tuesday, he said he did take the cellphone but gave it to Mugwindri’s friend after the assault. Walker said what happened to Mugwindri was retaliation for his helping police officers.

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