Weis Market on the 1500 block of North Cedar Crest Boulevard in South Whitehall Township

By Jillian Pikora From Daily Voice

A chaotic scene inside a Lehigh County Weis Market ended with a 45-year-old Emmaus man dead, officials announced on Thursday, July 31.

Timothy D. Vanbilliard was acting erratically, paranoid, and uncooperative inside the Weis Market on the 1500 block of North Cedar Crest Boulevard in South Whitehall Township on Sunday, May 11, according to District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan.

Vanbilliard accused responding officers of being imposters sent to kill him before he began destroying items and hurled a wine bottle at police, investigators said. Officers attempted to deescalate him for several minutes, but when he became more combative, they deployed a Taser. Vanbilliard continued resisting until he was finally handcuffed — then suddenly lost consciousness.

EMS and officers provided medical aid before rushing him to Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest, where he was pronounced dead at 2:59 p.m.

An autopsy later revealed his death was caused by Acute Methamphetamine Toxicity and Hypertensive and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in the Setting of Law Enforcement Subdual and Restraint, with Chronic Ethanol Use as a contributing factor. The manner of death was ruled an accident, Lehigh County Coroner Daniel Buglio announced.

DA Holihan said a review of body-worn camera footage confirmed the force used was justified, less than lethal, and did not cause Vanbilliard’s death. He stressed that the Taser strike was not deadly, pointing instead to the mix of illicit drugs, serious heart disease, and the intensity of the confrontation.

No criminal charges will be filed against the officers involved.