Foy credited with hate crime arrest
Date: April 10, 2008Source: Zwire.com
Foy’s scheduled shift last Tuesday consisted of working a security detail for Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign event at King’s College.
Immediately afterward, he retreated to his office to follow tips regarding the anti-Semitic symbols and messages spray painted on Congregation Ohav Zedek.
The lead that broke the case open came that night.
“He refused to go home,” said Wilkes-Barre police Chief Gerard Dessoye. “He didn’t work the case in the normal box — his eight hours. That Hillary Clinton detail, that could have been his shift. He said, ‘No, I want to get back to work on the synagogue case.’ That’s the night he developed the original lead.”
Foy met with a tipster later that night, which turned out to be the breakthrough police needed. Two days later, police announced they had the people responsible for the hate crime: a pair of teenage girls.
Dessoye said Foy remained in constant contact with other law enforcement, including the FBI, and the Jewish community while bringing the case to a resolution.
DA’s office promotions
The Luzerne County district attorney’s office now has a detective who concentrates on computer crimes.
District Attorney Jackie Musto Carroll recently promoted Charles “Chaz” Balogh to the newly created position.
Balogh has served the office for eight years as a community outreach specialist. He will now try to combat cyber-crime and also have full arrest powers in other investigations.
“We used to be afraid of strangers on streets and alleyways. Now we could be in our homes and on the computer and be at risk. We needed someone to handle computer crimes,” Musto Carroll said.
Musto Carroll also promoted veteran Detective Chris Lynch to detective lieutenant, which she said brings “his position in line with his duties.”
She called Lynch a “valued and trusted member of the staff” who successfully handles the office’s biggest cases.
Victims Rights march set
The Victims Resource Center, in cooperation with Wilkes University and King’s College, will sponsor its annual “Take Back the Night” march and rally next Wednesday, April 16, at 6 p.m. on Public Square. The event will be held in observance of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.
The march will start at two locations.
At 5:45 p.m., students, faculty and staff of Wilkes University, Victims Resource Center staff and members of the community will meet on West South Street at the Wilkes University Henry Student Center. The march will proceed east on West South Street to South Main Street, north on South Main Street to Public Square.
At the same time, students, faculty and staff of King’s College, Victims Resource Center staff and members of the community will depart from the King’s College Student Center and proceed down North Main Street to Public Square.
Bob Kalinowski covers the area’s police and fire community. He can be reached at 821-2055 or [email protected].
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