ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Police investigating allegations a noose was found at Allentown City Hall this month are seeking DNA from the woman who filed that report.
A city police detective sought the warrant Friday to collect a DNA sample from LaTarsha Brown, a Black woman who reported a noose on her city desk Jan. 10, court documents show.
Police did that after Brown declined to provide a voluntary DNA sample Jan. 14 during an interview with an FBI agent, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
“Since [Jan. 15], the victim has declined to answer phone calls or return voicemail messages left by the Allentown Police Detectives requesting a follow up."Application for search warrant
That agent “noted several vague statements and deceptive answers that raised concern” during Brown’s interview, court documents state.
Brown asked for an end to the FBI’s probe shortly after that interview, and Allentown police had no direct contact with her for more than a week, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed last week.
“Since [Jan. 15], the victim has declined to answer phone calls or return voicemail messages left by the Allentown Police Detectives requesting a follow up,” authorities said in the affidavit.
“As of [Jan. 23], the victim has refused all requests and opportunities to provide a sample of her DNA for investigatory purposes,” authorities said.
Police sought an “exclusionary” sample of Brown’s DNA because she said she touched the noose while taking photos of it Jan. 10 after finding it at her desk on the third floor of Allentown City Hall.
Brown works in the city’s Department of Community and Economic Development. She also is an elected member of Allentown School Board.
All other employees who were interviewed during the investigation agreed to provide a DNA sample if needed, authorities said in the affidavit.
Initial report
The affidavit filed Friday to support the application for a search-warrant for Brown’s DNA details her initial report Jan. 10.
Brown called an Allentown police sergeant’s cell phone at 7:34 a.m. that day after finding “an item resembling a noose,” the affidavit states.
She told a responding officer that she found a small item on her desk but didn’t immediately recognize it.
Brown said she picked up the item and took a picture, which she sent to coworkers in her office. She also did a search on Google to identify the item as a noose, according to court paperwork.
Allentown cops collected the item and agreed it “does appear to be a small noose.”
Brown told police she emailed her bosses the day before to request a professional mediation meeting to resolve her complaints of discrimination against a coworker.
She sent a follow-up email Jan. 10 telling city officials about the noose and said she was “at a breaking point,” court documents state.
The FBI joined the Allentown Police Department’s investigation on Jan. 13 and an agent spoke to Brown two days later.
That interview was authorities’ last direct contact with Brown until at least Jan. 24, when they filed an application for a search warrant for her DNA.
