Two men have been charged in an online sale turned armed robbery in Bethlehem that prompted a large police response over the weekend, authorities say.
City police said Sekani Damani Hartley, 23, of Bethlehem, and Israel Alexis Cortes, 23, of Allentown, robbed two teens about 2 p.m. Saturday in the 1700 block of Shimer Avenue. The two men robbed them after coordinating a sale of shoes through Facebook Marketplace, police said in a news release.
The men robbed them at gunpoint, then stole the shoes, valued at $1,000, as well as a cellphone before they fled the area, authorities said.
Police said they quickly identified the suspects and learned the stolen items and gun used in the robbery were located inside an apartment in the Oak Hollow Apartments complex. Police surrounded the building while detectives got a search warrant, the release states. That was done because a gun was involved in the robbery, authorities said.
The Bethlehem Police Department Emergency Response Team, K-9 officers from Bethlehem and Lower Saucon Township, and a remote controlled robot were involved in the response.
One of the men surrendered to officers, and the other was found hiding in a closet, police said. Investigators found the stolen shoes and three firearms, one of which had been reported stolen, the release states.
The department noted that proactive policing efforts led to a “rapid resolution,” including an increased presence in the area.
“Within hours of the robbery being reported, officers had identified the suspects, recovered all of the stolen property, located multiple firearms, and safely taken both suspects into custody,” the department said.
Both men are charged with robbery, conspiracy to commit that offense, prohibited possession of a firearm, receiving stolen property, carrying a firearm without a license and theft by unlawful taking. They were sent to Lehigh County Jail on $150,000 bail.