Teen Put Knife to Man's Neck, Demanded Money: Police

By Jack Tobias

A 17-year-old South Bethlehem resident is being charged as an adult for allegedly robbing a man at knifepoint Saturday afternoon not far from the boy's home.

Court records say that after Isaia Monte was taken to city police headquarters, he "spontaneously uttered" to an officer, "OK. Yeah, I did it."

But later, in the presence of his mother, Monte refused to talk to police, the records say.

Monte, who stands 5-feet-7 and weighs 310 pounds, is accused of getting a man in a headlock, putting a knife to the man's neck, then taking the man's cell phone and $22—all the money the man had in his wallet.

The records say assistant district attorney Michael Thompson approved charging Monte as an adult. Monte, of 803 E. Fourth St., second-floor apartment, turns 18 on Saturday.

A criminal complaint filed by city Officer Joshua Mallabar-Hobson also says:

• The alleged robbery occurred on the 700 block of E. Sixth Street, but police responded to Looper's Grille and Bar, 313 E. Third St., because that's where the victim called police.

• The victim said he was at a friend's apartment at the E. Sixth Street address when he was approached by a male he knows as "Isaia," who told him, "Give me your money."

• The victim said "no," then "Isaia" put him in a headlock and dragged him to the kitchen, where he picked up a steak knife and held it to the victim's neck. The victim said he was "terrified" and handed over all the money in his wallet—a total of $22.

• Monte then said, "Give me your cell phone too." The victim said he handed over his LG Touch Screen phone, valued at about $100. Monte then let him go, and the victim went to Looper's.

• The victim told police that the attacker was "heavy," was wearing a tan T-shirt and had an "Afro" hairstyle. Police went to the E. Sixth Street address and saw a male matching the description through a kitchen window.

• An officer and Monte eventually walked outside, and while Monte was seated in a police cruiser, the victim identified him as his attacker.

• Once at the police station, Monte made the "I did it" statement but would not talk to police once his mother arrived.

Monte is charged with two counts of robbery and single counts of simple assault, receiving stolen property and theft by unlawful taking. He was arraigned Saturday night by on-duty District Judge Todd Strohe of Bangor and committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail.