Man Shot By Easton Police Misses Hearing

A man who was shot and wounded by Easton police last month is headed to county court on drug possession charges.

However, Nelson Mayers wasn't in court Wednesday to defend himself against the allegation that he was carrying packets of heroin on the night a city police officer shot him in the leg.

Mayers was shot Aug. 21 during a police investigation into gunfire on the South Side of Easton.

According to an account given by District Attorney John Morganelli last month, Mayers ran from a police officer who encountered him and a group of men near Wierbach Street.

At one point, Mayers turned from the officer -- Patrolman Eric Campbell -- and pulled a black object from his waistband. Campbell fired two shots, one of them hitting Mayers in the leg. The black object turned out to be a cellphone.

Morganelli said Campbell had numerous reasons to believe he was in danger, and has ruled the shooting justified.

Mayers' hearing was scheduled for 2:30 p.m. before District Judge Daniel Corpora. The judge waited 15 minutes, and when Mayers hadn't shown up, started without him.

It was a brief proceeding. Caroline Reinik, an EMT at St. Luke's, described how Mayers had been brought in on the night of Aug. 21 with a gunshot wound, and how packets of heroin "fell out of his...his behind."

And Easton police Det. Chris Miller testified that he had tested those packets, and they tested positive for heroin.

Corpora ruled the charge -- possession of a controlled substance -- held over for Northampton County Court. He noted that Mayers had been aware of the hearing, and said it's possible the court will issue a bench warrant for him.