Executive Summary
- Tactical Operation: Allentown Police Vice and Emergency Response Team executed a raid on West Court Street, arresting 20-year-old Ryan Cruz-Pineiro.
- Weaponry Seized: Authorities confiscated an AK-47 style rifle with a drum magazine, body armor, two 9mm handguns, and a stolen .38 caliber revolver.
- Legal Status: Cruz-Pineiro faces multiple felonies, including possession with intent to deliver and receiving stolen property; he has been released on bail pending a hearing.
Allentown police arrested a 20-year-old local man on Friday morning following a tactical raid that resulted in the seizure of an AK-47 style rifle, multiple handguns, body armor, and various narcotics, according to law enforcement officials. The operation, executed by the Allentown Police Vice unit and the Emergency Response Team, targeted a residence in the 200 block of West Court Street shortly after 6:00 a.m.
City Police Patrol Captain Joshua Brubaker reported that the investigation focused on Ryan Cruz-Pineiro, who was apprehended inside the home during the search. Investigators recovered a significant cache of weaponry, including an AK-47 style rifle equipped with a drum magazine, several high-capacity magazines, a ballistic vest, a .357 caliber revolver, two 9mm semi-automatic handguns, and a .38 caliber revolver confirmed to be stolen.
In addition to the firearms, police seized approximately 340 grams of marijuana, 141 THC cartridges, five jars of THC concentrate, Xanax pills, seven grams of cocaine, and $1,186 in cash, according to the police report. Cruz-Pineiro has been charged with felony possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, felony receiving stolen property, and felony unlawful possession of body armor, along with other misdemeanor drug offenses.
Court records indicate that Cruz-Pineiro was arraigned before District Judge Karen C. Devine, who set bail at 10% of $50,000. While initially detained at Lehigh County Jail, records show the defendant has since posted bail. A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for February 20.
It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Public Safety Impact
The seizure of heavy weaponry, specifically an assault-style rifle with high-capacity magazines and ballistic armor, alongside stolen firearms, highlights a significant escalation in the potential threat level associated with local narcotics operations. The recovery of a stolen weapon also necessitates further forensic tracing by investigators to determine its origin and potential connection to prior criminal activity. The involvement of the Emergency Response Team underscores the high-risk nature of executing warrants where such armaments are suspected.
