State trooper justified in shooting at Allentown driver who hit him with car: DA

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A Pennsylvania State Police trooper was “entirely justified” when they shot at — but didn’t hit — an Allentown man who allegedly drove into a trooper in mid-June, according to Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin.

Paris Bartlett, 47, is facing two dozen charges, including five felonies, after police said he fled from a traffic stop about 5:40 p.m. June 16 near South Third and Foundry streets.

• A PSP trooper was justified in shooting at Paris Bartlett, who allegedly hit the trooper with his car during a June 16 traffic stop, Lehigh County DA Jim Martin ruled Tuesday
• The trooper shot twice at Bartlett, but he was not hit, Martin said
• The June 16 shooting was the second of three involving police in Allentown this year

Allentown police and state troopers pulled over Bartlett’s car that evening after a confidential informant told police Bartlett was preparing to sell drugs, Martin said Tuesday in a news release.

Trooper fired after being hit by car: DA

Police watched Bartlett, then “tailed” his car for several blocks before pulling it over near Hamilton and South Third streets, according to the district attorney.

An Allentown officer and a state trooper pulled in front of Bartlett’s car before getting out and ordering him not to move, Martin said.

Bartlett drove forward and hit the trooper in the thigh; he then backed into a sedan with two other Allentown police officers in it, Martin said.

The trooper who was hit fired two shots at Bartlett’s car as Bartlett “accelerated directly at [the] trooper,” Martin said.

Those shots hit the car’s windshield, but Bartlett was not injured, according to the district attorney.

Bartlett drove over a curb and around a police vehicle, prompting a pursuit through Allentown’s East Side, Martin said.

Bartlett allegedly drove into oncoming traffic on the Hamilton Street bridge before he crashed into a state police vehicle and another car, Martin said.

A trooper then spun Bartlett’s car on South Carlisle Street, Martin said.

Barlett drove on a sidewalk along the street until a PSP vehicle crashed into his car and disabled it, Martin said.

Police arrested Bartlett after pulling him out of his car, where officers found a cigarette pack with crack cocaine and marijuana, Martin said. Police found more crack cocaine and other narcotics after an additional search, he said.

Differing details

Bartlett was treated at St. Luke’s University Hospital’s Fountain Hill campus for injuries caused “by his erratic and reckless driving, and his fleeing from police,” Martin said.

State police initially said the trooper shot Bartlett, but the agency later said he was not injured by gunfire.

Martin said Bartlett hit a state trooper with his vehicle during the traffic stop, which differs from the charges filed against Bartlett.

The affidavit of probable cause that described the June 16 traffic stop alleges Bartlett drove at the trooper, but came “within inches” of hitting him.

Bartlett has been in Lehigh County Jail since his arrest, in lieu of $200,000 bail, Martin said. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Tuesday.

Police shootings

The June 16 incident was the second of three police-involved shootings in Allentown this year.

Allentown Police Officer Zane Struss shot and killed Xavier Arnold on Feb. 10. Police said Arnold, 20, had allegedly assaulted another man and refused orders to drop his gun moments before his death.

Martin ruled March 2 that Struss was justified in fatally shooting Arnold.

Allentown police fatally shot Dominic Hogans, 27, on July 24. Allentown Police officials said Hogans fired at officers.

But more than two weeks later, they still have not said if the officers who fired their guns during the fatal shooting are still on duty.

APD use-of-force policy says officers who cause death or serious injury “shall be placed on administrative leave/duty after completing all administrative investigation requirements, and until it is determined by a mental health professional and the Chief of Police that the Police Officer is ready to return to duty.”

Joe Welsh, founder and executive director of the Lehigh Valley Justice Institute, questioned the Allentown Police Department’s decision not to disclose the officers’ status.

“I would be hard-pressed to think of a reason why not disclosing whether or not the officer involved was on paid administrative leave somehow would compromise an investigation,” Welsh said.

“I mean, that would be the only legitimate reason for withholding that information.”