BETHLEHEM, Pa- Two people are under arrest after the City of Bethlehem Police Department said they pulled a gun during a Facebook Marketplace transaction and stole athletic shoes.
Bethlehem police said the department responded to a report of an armed robbery at 1700 block of Shimer Avenue on May 30.
The investigation revealed that two juvenile victims met individuals through Facebook Marketplace for the sale of athletic shoes valued at roughly $1,000, according to a department media release.
Police said one of the suspects displayed a firearm and robbed the victims of the shoes and a phone before fleeing the area with a second suspect.
Detectives said the suspects were Sakani Damani Hartley of Bethlehem, 23, and Israel Alexis Cortes of Allentown, 23, after the arrests.
Both suspects were charged with robbery, carrying firearms without a license and more, according to investigators.
The department determined the stolen property and firearm were likely located inside an apartment in the Oak Hollow Apartment Complex, according to the news release.
Police said they created a perimeter around the residence while authorities obtained a search warrant due to the involvement of a firearm and nature of the offense.
The Bethlehem Police Department Emergency Response Team used a remotely operated robot to gather information and deploy chemical agents within the residence before making entry to reduce the risk of both officers and occupants, according to the news release.
The report states that both suspects were taken into custody. One suspect surrendered after police commanded the occupants to exit the apartment, and the other was found hiding in a closet, according to police.
Police said they recovered all five pairs of stolen shoes, a stolen firearm, clothing featured in the robbery, and two additional firearms.