Allentown police announce arrest for stolen handgun
Release of info part of effort to communicate with community
An Upper Macungie Township man was caught with a stolen handgun early Saturday in Allentown during a surveillance operation, city police said.
Barry C. Singleton-Evans’ arrest was touted Sunday by police Chief Tony Alsleben, who said the announcement was part of an effort to communicate more fully with the community, which has been shaken by a spate of shootings this summer.
“We just want the residents to know that we’re out there and we’re doing these things,” said Alsleben, whose leadership faced criticism last week from some residents, council members and community leaders who charged police haven’t done enough to stanch the violence.
Singleton-Evans, 21, of the 1100 block of Westminster Drive was sent to Lehigh County Jail under $40,000 bail on firearms charges and receiving stolen property. Alsleben said there is nothing to indicate SingletonEvans is connected to any of the city’s recent shootings.
Singleton-Evans’ encounter with police occurred about 12:40 a.m., when officers were surveilling the 500 block of North Seventh Street, police said. When Singleton-Evans noticed the police presence, he stashed something under a car that authorities ultimately determined was a stolen handgun, police said.
“My point is, obviously we want to get out as much information as possible,” Alsleben said. “These are things that go on about every day and week that we do.”
Since the beginning of June, 25 people have been shot in Allentown, one of whom died. Few arrests have been made in the violence, which included a June 20 mass shooting outside the Deja Vu nightclub that wounded 10 people.
On Saturday, police said they cracked the city’s most recent shooting, which occurred last Tuesday. Jerameel J. Ruiz, 24, of Allentown was arrested on charges of attempted murder, accused of shooting Gregory Aponte with a sawed-off shotgun in the 1300 block of South Ninth Street, wounding him in the leg.
Public frustration over the shootings was aired last week at a community meeting at Immaculate Conception Church and a day later at City Council, culminating in calls by some for Alsleben’s ouster. On Friday, Tim Ramos, the Republican candidate for mayor, said he would appoint a new police chief if elected in November.
Alsleben has defended his department’s work, saying it is doing everything it can to keep residents safe.