Constable guilty of lying about firing gun at Black man

The West Easton constable accused of lying about firing her gun at a Black neighbor who she said threatened her life has been convicted by a Northampton County jury of providing false reports to police.

Tricia Mezzacappa, 50, faces a maximum of a year’s probation for the 2019 crime. During the incident, Mezzacappa worked as an armed constable, an elected position in Pennsylvania. It was not clear if or how the guilty plea would affect her ability to serve in the position.

The trial, which began Monday, included testimony from multiple state police troopers.

Authorities said state police responded Feb. 11, 2019, to Mezzacappa’s home in the 800 block of Ridge Street in West Easton.

Her neighbor told police that earlier in the night, Mezzacappa banged on the driver’s side window and cursed at him as he got out of his vehicle. He said the harassment stemmed from Mezzacappa’s complaints about the sound of his car’s exhaust. He said she threatened to take him to court.

Mezzacappa’s story about the incident was much different. She said a Black man pointed a gun at her head as she got out of her vehicle. She said she decided to defend herself and fired a single round from her own gun and then he fled.

But when state police inspected the weapon she said she fired, they found it to still be carrying its capacity, 17 rounds, none of which were in the chamber. Police searched the area for evidence of her firing the weapon, but came up empty. Neighbors said they never heard any gunshots.

Police said they determined Mezzacappa lied about firing the weapon.AmessageleftwithMezzcappa’s attorney was not returned.

She is scheduled to be sentenced at 10 a.m. April 21.

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