Update: 2/22/21 McCartney Street Incident

Dear Lafayette Campus Community Members,

On Monday, we sent information to the campus community regarding a reported violent crime (robbery) on McCartney Street. Our crime log has since been updated to reflect additional crimes as a result of this incident to include burglary, prohibited offensive weapon, criminal trespassing, and terroristic threats.

We continue to conduct interviews, examine and process evidence left at the residence, review on and off-campus CCTV, and pursue all investigative leads in collaboration with local law enforcement to identify and locate the suspect involved with this incident. 

This was a serious and alarming incident, and there is a heightened sense of anxiety in the community. To that end, we added extra patrols of the neighborhood and will continue to monitor the areas on and immediately surrounding the campus.

We have received questions regarding the locks installed in our off-campus apartments. Each lock is a commercial-grade mechanism that includes special features not found in residential locks, making the lock more secure than those on a typical private home. On Monday, the College’s locksmith checked a number of locks and found them to be functioning properly. Additionally, the College participates in required inspections of our properties by the Easton Code Office with a prescribed percentage of our housing stock checked annually. The city of Easton includes inspection of front door hardware on all College-owned, off-campus housing. If a student believes their front or bedroom door lock is not functioning properly, please immediately report that to Public Safety at 610-330-5330.

The community is encouraged to continue sharing any information or video pertaining to this investigation. Please contact Detective Sergeant Keith O’Hay at (610) 330-5330 or by email.

Helpful resources for students:

• The Counseling Center offers a variety of services and resources including same day tele-consultation appointments. Students can call the Counseling Center at 610-330-5005 to request a tele-consultation appointment Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tele-consultations are provided on a first-call, first-scheduled basis each day. In addition, after hours and weekend telephone crisis support is available by calling 610-330-5005.
• The residence life staff member who oversees your area is another resource to utilize. 
• Students who find the experience is affecting their academics should seek assistance from their class dean in requesting flexibility from their professors.

As always, we would like to take this opportunity to remind the Lafayette community again of some important personal safety practices that should be routinely followed:

• Secure all windows and doors.
• Always be aware of your surroundings.
• Know the locations of “blue light” emergency phones in case you need to use one.
• At night, walk with a known companion, whenever possible.
• Avoid walking in secluded or dimly lit areas.
• If you believe you are being followed, cross the street or change directions. Attempt to get a good description of the person and call Public Safety (610-330-4444), if near campus, or 911 if off campus.
• If you’re still being followed, go to the nearest house or business and call Public Safety (610-330-4444), if near campus, or 911 if off campus.
• Carry your cell phone to summon help and avoid talking on your phone if you are walking alone late at night.
• While walking, do not wear headphones/earphones.
• Utilize walking escort by Public Safety officers by calling (610) 330-5330.

Sincerely,

Department of Public Safety