CORRECTION/UPDATE: An earlier version of this article misidentified the Bangor police chief.
EASTON, Pa. — Authorities are investigating a Moore Township police officer after two women filed protection-from-abuse complaints against him last month, alleging he attempted to hire someone to kidnap his ex-girlfriend and placed a tracking device on his wife's car as she pursued a divorce.
Northampton County District Attorney Terry Houck confirmed there is an investigation into Johnathan Miklich, a full-time patrolman with the Moore Township Police Department who works part-time for the Bangor Police Department. Houck declined further comment.
- Two women have filed protection-from-abuse complaints against Moore Township Police Officer Johnathan Miklich
- The plaintiffs allege he attempted to enter a home where his wife was speaking to an attorney about pursuing a divorce
- Law enforcement has confirmed there is an ongoing investigation into the allegations
Northampton County Court issued a temporary protection-from-abuse order that required Miklich to relinquish his firearms to the Northampton County Sheriff's Department and have no contact with the plaintiffs or their children.
No criminal charges have been filed against him.
Details of allegations
Court documents show the two women filed complaints last week. In one, a woman who identified herself as Miklich's ex-girlfriend said she was contacted by his best friend. The man warned her that Miklich had tried to hire him to "have her kidnapped and beaten for $1,000."
The next day, the same friend arranged a meeting for Miklich's wife and the ex-girlfriend to meet with an attorney; the wife was pursuing a divorce, according to court documents. In her own protection from abuse complaint, Miklich's wife alleged in the past three years destroyed furniture, walls, cell phones and doors in their home; choked and assaulted her in front of her child and the ex-girlfriend; and emotionally abused her.
Within minutes of arriving at the friend's Nazareth-area home, the wife alleged, Miklich showed up in uniform. He pounded on the doors and called their cell phones for an hour and a half, according to court documents, and the wife feared for her life. The ex-girlfriend noted in her PFA that Miklich was supposed to be on duty in Bangor at the time. The ex-girlfriend, who was still on the way, called 911, according to court documents.
Miklich fled when police arrived, but officers located a tracking device on the wife's car, the wife wrote in her PFA complaint.
Domestic violence happens in more homes than we think they happen in. It doesn't discriminate if it's an officer or not.Marlena Flora, legal advocacy director for Turning Point of Lehigh Valley, which works with victims of domestic abuse.
In her PFA complaint, the ex-girlfriend said she feared he would retaliate against her for calling 911. She wrote Miklich emotionally abused her by withholding financial support, creating fake text messages with his boss and lawyer to make it appear he was divorcing his wife, threatening to leave her and placing a tracking device on her car. The ex-girlfriend alleged she has witnessed him assault his wife.
LehighValleyNews.com is not publishing the names of the two plaintiffs who sought protective orders against Miklich, 34.
Robert Eyer, Miklich's attorney, was not immediately available for comment Monday. Moore Township Police Chief Gary West did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment on Miklich's employment status. Bangor Police Chief Kevin Jones confirmed an investigation but declined additional comment. Bangor Mayor Mary Ellen DeFranco said Miklich is suspended from his borough duties.
Miklich is scheduled to appear in court May 8.
Domestic violence in Pennsylvania
Domestic violence — cases of willful intimidation, physical assault or other abusive behavior — are common across Pennsylvania and the United States. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, nearly 10 million adults are victims of domestic violence in the U.S. every year. The nonprofit organization says 37.1% of Pennsylvania women and 30.4% of Pennsylvania men experience intimate partner physical violence, sexual violence, stalking or some combination of the three in their lifetimes.
Marlena Flora, legal advocacy director for Turning Point of Lehigh Valley, a nonprofit that works with victims of domestic violence, said she did not have data of how often alleged abusers are law enforcement officers. In many cases, abusers attempt to exert control over their victims by telling them that people will not believe them, she said.
READ MORE: Judge objects to giving back guns to Lehigh Valley police officer facing abuse allegations
While not commenting on the specific allegations against Miklich, Flora said it can be especially difficult for victims to come forward when their abusers are people in positions of authority.
"Domestic violence happens in more homes than we think they happen in. It doesn't discriminate if it's an officer or not," Flora said.
If you are being abused, help is available. Speak to someone by calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-877-438-4957, texting START to 88788 or visiting thehotline.org.
