In October 2021, the Elizabethtown Police Department (EPD) received a report of an inappropriate relationship between two students at the Elizabethtown High School and began an in-depth investigation into this allegation.  As a result of this investigation, EPD detectives uncovered evidence that a male student and female student were exchanging sexually explicit photographs, videos, and conversations.  After conducting a number of in-depth interviews and investigative processes, the investigation further determined that the female student in question was under the age of 18 while the male student was over the age of 18.  Once the full scope of the investigation was clear in the beginning February of this year, the EPD and the Elizabethtown Area School District worked together, within the confines of applicable law, to resolve this complaint as quickly as possible. 

Detective Edward Wengiel from the Elizabethtown Police Department obtained an arrest warrant for the male student.  On Tuesday, February 22, 2022, Detective Wengiel, along with several other officers from both the Elizabethtown Borough and Northwest Regional Police Departments served arrest and search warrants in relation to this case.  At approximately 9:15 am, Congle ZHU (male/Asian, 19yoa) was arrested without incident.  ZHU was arraigned in front of Magistrate Randall Miller to face charges of T18 §6318 – Unlawful Contact with a Minor (Felony), T18 §6312 – Child Pornography (Felony), and several other related felonies and misdemeanors.  At his preliminary arraignment, ZHU was released to house arrest on $20,000 bond with a number of additional conditions.    

The EPD reminds everyone that all persons arrested are INNOCENT until proven guilty in a court of law.