Details Emerge in Alleged Upper Saucon Father-Son Stabbing

An Upper Saucon man claims his son is "framing him" for the crime.

Police were called to the home of Alan Birk, 47, just before 11 Wednesday night for the report of a stabbing. According to the criminal complaint, when police arrived they found Matthew Birk, 21, standing about 200 feet from the home at 3834 Route 309 with a kitchen steak knife sticking out of his chest. The report says that the blade "approximately four-and-a-half inches was in his chest on his left side in the area of his heart. He was bleeding heavily from the knife wound site." 

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According to police, Matthew Birk told officers that he was in a verbal argument with his father, Alan Birk, when the fight became physical. Matthew claimed that they began shoving and pushing each other and as they fought, [Alan Birk] stabbed him in his chest with a knife." 

Police found Alan Birk walking in his front yard of the home on Route 309 between Chesnut Street and Valley Road. When questioned about the stabbing, Alan Birk claimed that his son Matthew Birk "stabbed himself in the chest and was framing him for it." 

Matthew Birk was transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, and as of 2:30pm today was still in the emergency room being treated for his wounds. 

Alan Birk is charged with: 

• Attempted Criminal Homicide, a first-degree felony
• Aggravated Assault, a first-degree felony
• Aggravated Assault with a weapon, a second-degree felony
• Simple Assault, a first-degree misdemeanor

Possessing an Instrument of a Crime, a first degree misdemeanor.

Alan Birk was committed to Lehigh County Prison after failing to post $150,000 bail.