Bad news for Lehigh goalpost revelers: The county prosecutor is a Lafayette alum

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Forget for a moment that Stephen Baratta is a proud Lafayette College alumnus.

He’s also the Northampton County district attorney, called on by the Bethlehem Police Department for guidance in its investigation into 300 Lehigh University students who paraded a football goalpost miles through South Bethlehem, then tossed it off the Fahy Bridge into the Lehigh River.

It happened Saturday after Lehigh’s 38-14 triumph over rival Lafayette at Goodman Stadium — a game that clinched the Patriot League championship for Lehigh and a bid to the FCS playoffs.

“Arguably there are criminal code violations,” Baratta said Tuesday, “and this is not behavior that we can really sanction.

"We can’t have this. We can’t have students taking over the streets in celebration of a football game and dragging a goalpost through the streets and then taking it onto the bridge and throwing the goalpost into the river.”

Bethlehem Police Chief Michelle Kott told LehighValleyNews.com on Monday that police were investigating the incident and trying to identify those who carried the goalpost and tossed it over the bridge railing.

Police were present throughout the students’ four-mile march. Photos and video on social media appeared to show police leading the procession with patrol cars.

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Stephen Baratta

“I don’t know that they were officially escorting them,” Baratta said of police. “They wanted to make sure that there weren’t any major problems. I don’t think they were happy about it.”

'Lehigh didn't take charge'

Kott said city police were notified about 3:20 p.m. Saturday by Lehigh University police that a large crowd with the goalpost was making its way into the city from Goodman.

She said police made numerous announcements for the throng to disperse and “took positions to keep motorists from encountering the large group of students.”

Kott said there were no reports of injuries or property damage during the students’ route.

“I think part of the problem from my own observation so far is that perhaps Lehigh didn’t take charge of what was going on when they could have,” Baratta said.

“There was interaction I think between Bethlehem police and Lehigh University police, where the Bethlehem police did not want these kids coming into town with that goalpost and walking through the streets.

“And I don’t think the Lehigh University Police Department was prepared to deal with that. And that may have been the breakdown.”

A call to university Police Chief Jason Schiffer was referred to Lehigh’s media relations staff. Lehigh issued a statement Monday night apologizing for the disruption and crediting both police agencies for their response.

'Crimes that are chargeable'

Baratta, a longtime Northampton County judge who was elected district attorney in 2023, said the involvement of his office does not necessarily mean charges will be filed against anyone.

“I believe Bethlehem police want to identify those people who they believe were sort of leaders and in charge of what occurred," Baratta said.

"Then we’re going to sit down and consult with the Lehigh University Police Department and make a determination what’s the best way to proceed.

“I don’t think that anyone at this point wants to overcharge and make examples out of students where they might have difficulty or it might interfere with their educational career, but at this point the investigation is ongoing.

“There are crimes that are chargeable, I believe, whether it's disorderly conduct. There were instructions given to the students to stop and not to continue.

"And then throwing the goal post into the river there are potential crimes that could be brought.

“I think more than anything else, probably the city is concerned about this happening again and having more serious ramifications. I can envision this getting to be a problem.”

The Lehigh-Lafayette football game is the most-played rivalry in Division I football, dating to 1884. The game typically alternates each November between the two campuses, which are less than 15 miles apart.

Said Baratta, a 1978 Lafayette grad whose team lost to Lehigh his senior year, 35-17: “I’m hopeful that this is not going to get blown out of proportion in any way.”