Death by Cop 2021-2025
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Richard Lee Sweet
Gender : Male
Age : 47
Race : Black
Date : 10/08/2021
Location : 100 block Fisher Avenue
City : Coaldale
County : Schuylkill
State : Pennsylvania
Agency : Pennsylvania State Police, Coaldale Police Department
Officer(s) :Unknown
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed by police during standoff
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
On 10/08/2021, the Pennsylvania State Police and Coaldale Police Department were involved in a standoff with 47-year-old Richard Lee Sweet in Coaldale, Pennsylvania. Sweet was wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of his girlfriend, Joan Cressman, earlier that day in East Allentown. After the shooting, Sweet fled to his home on the 100 block of Fisher Avenue in Coaldale. Police escalated a large standoff that lasted over four hours. They used loudspeakers while Sweet locked himself inside. Around 4 p.m., neighbors heard a single gunshot from inside the residence. When police entered, Sweet was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound and was pronounced dead.
