Robert Rudolph II, 43, of Easton, is charged with driving under the influence in connection with the July 29 incident.
Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan said Rudolph testified while intoxicated during the homicide trial of Evander Thompson.
Allentown Police Chief Charles Roca confirmed Rudolph has been placed on administrative leave while the department conducts an internal investigation.
“Because this is an active personnel matter, I will not comment further at this time,” Roca said.
Officer Accused of Driving From Easton to Allentown
According to court documents, an Allentown Police officer was notified shortly before 10:30 a.m. on July 29 that Rudolph was suspected of DUI and was at police headquarters.
Authorities said Rudolph had an odor of alcohol on his breath along with glassy eyes, body tremors and an unsteady gait.
Court documents state Rudolph admitted to drinking a fifth of vodka the night before.
Investigators said Rudolph also acknowledged driving from Easton to Allentown that morning, arriving at approximately 9:30 a.m. before parking his vehicle in a secured parking garage near Fourth and Hamilton streets.
After conducting field sobriety testing, another Allentown Police officer determined Rudolph was impaired to a degree that he could not safely operate a vehicle, according to court paperwork.
Rudolph is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Sept. 3.
Testimony Came During Murder Trial
The incident occurred during the homicide trial of Evander Thompson, who was ultimately convicted of criminal homicide, first-degree murder and carrying a firearm without a license in connection with the 2023 killing of 61-year-old Orlando Ibanez.
Allentown Police were called to the 500 block of West Allen Street shortly before 2 a.m. on Sept. 23, 2023, for a reported shooting.
Officers found Ibanez near the entrance to his apartment suffering from a gunshot wound to the neck. He later died, and Lehigh County Coroner Daniel Buglio ruled the death a homicide.
Investigators recovered a shell casing near Ibanez’s body.
Authorities said surveillance footage showed Thompson entering the West Allen Street residence shortly before the shooting and running from the area several minutes later.
Additional video allegedly showed Thompson using his cellphone shortly after the shooting. Following a court-authorized search of the phone, investigators discovered a message Thompson sent while leaving the area that read, “he dead.”
Police used city surveillance cameras and privately owned cameras to track Thompson walking from his home to the shooting scene and later returning home.
Additional footage showed Thompson wearing the same clothing while leaving an Allentown bar and restaurant shortly after 1 a.m. Receipts from the establishment also placed him there in the hours before the killing, authorities said.
Investigators later recovered a firearm from the minor son of Thompson’s paramour. Testing by the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Firearm and Tool Mark Laboratory determined the gun matched both the shell casing recovered at the homicide scene and the projectile removed from Ibanez during his autopsy.
Investigators with the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Center also located video allegedly recorded by Thompson showing himself with a firearm consistent with the murder weapon.
Rudolph’s DUI case remains pending, and the Allentown Police Department’s internal investigation is ongoing.
