Crime & Safety

Police: American Hotel Tenant Trashes Bar, Steals Alcohol

Cory Lee Murphy, 30, told police he was upset with the hotel's owner.

A man who was renting a room at the American Hotel in Nazareth is facing multiple charges, including burglary and criminal mischief, after police say he trashed the hotel’s bar area and stole several bottles of alcohol.

According to court records:

Police were called to the hotel at 202 S. Main St. on June 18 for a burglary report. When Det. Fred Lahovski arrived, he found signs of forced entry at the rear door, in addition to beer and liquor bottles scattered throughout the hotel’s fire escape, bar area and kitchen area.

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After reviewing video surveillance tapes, Officer Daniel Troxell recognized the man through previous contacts with Nazareth police as “Cory."

An employee told police that he recognized the man in the video as an upstairs tenant who had been in the bar earlier in the evening.

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Lahovski found “Cory” -- fully identified later as Cory Lee Murphy, 30 -- in room 26. When inside the room, Lahovski observed several bottles of alcoholic beverages “of the type taken from the bar area” sitting on top of a dresser.

Murphy admitted to police that he was upset with the hotel owner, that he had entered the bar area through a basement door and that he had taken several bottles of alcohol.

The value of the stolen items is estimated at $50 to $200, and the damage to the hotel’s door is estimated to be less than $150.

According to borough police Chief Thomas Trachta, a house on Union Street in the borough was the last known address for Murphy, and that address was in 2000.

In 2007, Murphy was arrested by Easton police and sent to Northampton County Prison for simple assault and harassment. The following year, Nazareth police cited Murphy for public drunkenness.

In the American Hotel incident, Murphy has been charged with burglary, theft, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief.  He was committed to in lieu of $50,000 bail.


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