Easton Robbery Suspect Arrested in New Jersey

Kenneth Ennis
Photo courtesy of the Easton Police Department

Kenneth Maurice Ennis, wanted by authorities in connection with a robbery that took place late last year in Easton's South Side neighborhood, was arrested in New Jersey this morning, the Easton Police Department reports.

City police, assisted by the Phillipsburg Police Department, took Ennis into custody at about 8:30 a.m. in the area of the 1000 block of Third Avenue in Alpha, NJ, EPD Detective Charles Leauber said.

Ennis, 24, had been named by police as one of three armed men who allegedly assaulted a 26-year-old man and took his wallet in the 100 block of West St. Joseph Street in the early evening hours of December 27, 2013. The victim was reportedly punched several times during the incident, though he did not require medical treatment for his injuries.


Ennis faces charges of criminal conspiracy to commit robbery, simple assault, robbery,  simple assault, theft, and recklessly endangering another person, police previously said.

Three Arrested in Simultaneous Police Raids

Three people were arrested early this morning after Easton police conducted three simultaneous raids at locations in the city's West Ward and South Side neighborhoods.

Michael Ayala, 43, and Mikaela Ayala, 29, were arrested after a warranted search by a Pennsylvania State Police Special Response Team (SERT) at 20 North Ninth St. yielded crack cocaine, drug paraphernalia, and $2,900 in cash, a media release from the Easton Police Department said.

Michael Ayala faces charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia, and is expected to be arraigned later today, police said.

Mikaela Ayala, who is Michael Ayala's daughter, has been charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. She was released and will be cited via summons, authorities said.

At 740 West Wilkes Barre St., Mark Parks Sr. was arrested and faces charges of possession with intent to distribute heroin and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Police  report they seized approximately $10,000 worth of heroin, $3,000 worth of marijuana, and a scale at the residence. Parks is expected to be arraigned later today.

A warranted search was also conducted at a garage located at 228 North 14th St. and police were in the process over the course of Friday morning searching and seizing for forfeiture four vehicles and a motorcycle related to Parks' arrest, law enforcement authorities said.

Investigations leading to the raids were conducted by the Easton Police Department's vice/narcotics unit, the department said, adding that the cases were not connected and that no one was injured during the raids.

According to online county tax records, all three of the properties that were searched by police Friday morning are locally owned with all property owners listed as residing in Northampton County.

Updated at 12:31 p.m. to clarify the familial relationship of two of those charged.

Second Suspect Arrested for South Side Robberies

A 16-year-old male was arrested just after noon today in connection to two of three robberies that occurred recently in the South Side neighborhood of the city, the Easton Police Department has announced.

The juvenile arrested, whose name is not being released due to his age, is suspected of having been involved in a robbery that occurred in the 400 block of Davis Street this past Sunday just after midnight on September 29, and also in an attempted home invasion that occurred in the 600 block of Charles Street at about 1:46 a.m. the same day, police say.

Both incidents reportedly involved a shotgun being displayed by the perpetrators, and police reported they recovered a plastic replica weapon in the area after the robberies.

A 16-year-old runaway, Al-fuquan Craft who also used the street name "Fu-Fu", was arrested Tuesday and charged Wednesday with robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, and theft in connection with an incident that occurred on Friday, Sept. 27 around 11:30 p.m., where two males reportedly approached a 42-year-old Easton resident with a knife and stole her cell phone, police said.

Police now indicate he was additionally involved in the Davis Street robbery and will face charges in connection with that incident as well.

Both 16-year-old suspects are in the custody of Northampton County Juvenile Detention, police said.


It is unclear if police are seeking a possible third suspect in connection to the three crime incidents.

Police Arrest Two in Early Morning Drug Bust

Two people were arrested early this morning at 679 Bushkill Street, on the
edge of Easton's West Ward, and charged with various drug-related offenses.
Google Maps image

 Two people were arrested and charged with various offenses following the execution of a narcotics search warrant just after 6 a.m. this morning at a residence in the 600 block of Bushkill Street, the Easton Police Department reports.

The home's residents were also under scrutiny in relation to a shooting incident that took place last month at the intersection of Seventh and Northampton streets, authorities said. One man was arrested and charged earlier this month in that incident, but police are still seeking the second suspect.

Barbara McNeil, 31, faces charges of possession of a controlled substance and delivery of heroin, along with charges of giving false identification to law enforcement from a prior warrant for her arrest. Police say she delivered the heroin to vice detectives on a previous date.

Sean Bookman, 24, was also arrested at the 679 Bushkill St. residence. Police said he will be charged via a summons for possession of a small amount of marijuana.

The raid was conducted after a several month long investigation into heroin dealing and Bloods gang activity at the residence, authorities said. It was conducted by the EPD Vice Unit. 

The investigation is ongoing, relating to the other suspected gang members associated with the residence, they added.

In addition to McNeil and Bookman, there were six minor children in the home when police raided it, ranging in age from 1 to 16 years, police said. They were reportedly turned over to other  family members.

One police officer reportedly sustained an unspecified injury due to a fall during the operation, police said. He was reportedly treated and released on the scene.

Police added that the home is set to be investigated by the city codes enforcement office for violations related to living conditions there, but did not say what those conditions might be.