An Allentown woman claims a city councilman broke her front glass door and repeatedly harassed her and her children about their dog, according to a private criminal complaint filed in district court.
By Arlene Martínez | OF THE MORNING CALL
June 18, 2009
An Allentown woman claims a city councilman broke her front glass door and repeatedly harassed her and her children about their dog, according to a private criminal complaint filed in district court.
Maria E. Cordero of 118 N. West St. filed the complaint last month against her neighbor, City Council Vice President Michael Donovan of 122 N. West St. Cordero said Donovan’s wife, Diana Morse, also verbally harassed Cordero and her two children, according to the court documents.
A separate civil suit filed by a different resident of 118 N. West St. seeks $500 plus court fees to replace the glass door.
Cordero alleged that last month, Donovan rang the doorbell several times in a ”brutal disturbing way” and knocked on the glass door so hard it broke as soon as the door opened.
Among other things, Cordero said Morse constantly complained about Cordero’s dog. Donovan even visited Cordero’s 17-year-old son at work twice and told him, ”You have to do something about the dog because me and Diana are tired of it,” according to court documents.
Donovan declined to comment, referring calls to his attorneys, who denied the allegations.
”Mr. Donovan has an excellent reputation with his neighbors and in the community, and we are confident that people will see these petty and baseless allegations for what they are,” said his attorney.
Reached by phone, Cordero declined to comment, saying the matter would be settled in court.
This is the second time in recent months Donovan has been involved in legal issues. In April, Donovan suffered a broken cheekbone after being punched in the face by a teenage boy. Donovan had told the boy and his two friends to stop riding a go-cart in Buck Boyle Park in Allentown because it would ruin the playing fields. When the boys refused, Donovan told them he was calling the police. That’s when he was punched.
The boy was found delinquent of simple assault and harassment.