Crime & Safety
SWAT Team Nabs Emmaus Man in Hotel Standoff
Matthew Michael Lerch of 25 N. 3rd St., Emmaus, was arrested Monday night following a standoff in a Hanover Township hotel.
An Emmaus man was arrested last night following a six-hour standoff in which he barricaded himself in a hotel room in Hanover Township (Lehigh County), police said.
Matthew Michael Lerch, 39, who has several warrants for his arrest in Lehigh County, was registered as a guest in the Knights Hotel, according to state police at Bethlehem. When police arrived at the hotel about 1 p.m., Lerch barricaded himself in his room and refused to leave.
The third floor of the hotel was eventually evacuated, since police could not determine if Lerch had any weapons.
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Police negotiators ultimately were able to convince Lerch to surrender about 6:30 p.m Monday. He was not armed, police said.
Lerch was taken to Lehigh County Prison. Lerch lives at 25 N. Third St. in Emmaus, according to police.
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