ALLENTOWN, Pa. – An Allentown police officer was arrested and charged Tuesday with attempted homicide after authorities alleged he pointed a gun at his wife and pulled the trigger.
Ismael Andre Segarra Jr., 37, of Easton, also faces charges of aggravated assault, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, simple assault, four counts of making terroristic threats and possession of an instrument of crime with intent, court records show.
- Allentown police officer Ismael Segarra is facing a slew of charges, including attempted homicide
- Easton police allege he pointed a loaded shotgun at his wife and pulled the trigger, but it jammed
- He was being held Wednesday at Northampton County Prison on $750,000 bail
Segarra aimed a loaded 12-gauge shotgun at his wife and tried to shoot her, but the weapon jammed, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed against him.
An attorney for Segarra was not listed Wednesday on court filings.
"The Allentown Police Department was made aware of this off-duty incident and the officer was immediately removed from active duty."Allentown Police Chief Charles Roca
Segarra was suspended from his job, according to Allentown Police Chief Charles Roca.
Shotgun jammed, police say
Easton police were called around 1:21 p.m. Tuesday to a business on North 13th Street, near where Segarra’s wife said he was driving around and searching for her after threatening to kill her and her three children, court documents state.
She told police she was arguing with Segarra about a potential divorce before he said, “None of us will be here when the police come. You’re all going to die.”
Police allege Segarra also barricaded his wife in several rooms in their Chidsey Street home before getting his “rifle bag” from the basement.
Segarra’s wife told police he then pulled out a Churchill AKKAR 612 12-gauge shotgun and told one of the children, "You better run.” He ordered his wife to the attic and warned that “someone’s head is about to get blown off,” according to the affidavit of probable cause.
Segarra cocked the shotgun and pointed it at his wife, who heard the shotgun "click” before Segarra said the weapon jammed, court documents state.
Segarra’s wife said she ran out of the home while he was trying to “fix” the shotgun and called police after finding a phone, according to court records.
Police said they found a loaded shotgun inside the home.
Held on $750,000 bail
Segarra was arraigned before District Judge Alicia Rose Zito late Tuesday and was unable to post his $750,000 bail.
He is being held at Northampton County Prison and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for July 12.
Segarra joined the Allentown Police Department in 2012. He previously served in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years and was in the Marine Corps Reserves when he joined the department. He received a commendation for bravery in 2015.
"The Allentown Police Department was made aware of this off-duty incident and the officer was immediately removed from active duty," Allentown Police Chief Charles Roca said in an email to LehighValleyNews.com.
"The Office of Professional Standards is conducting an internal investigation and the officer remains suspended. The incident remains an active criminal investigation in Northampton County. The results of the department’s internal investigation into the conduct will remain confidential."
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