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Published on January 17, 2025
Newly Appointed Collingdale Officer Resigns Amid Road Rage Charges, Prompting Department ScrutinySource: Facebook/Collingdale Police Department

In a recent development that has brought renewed scrutiny to the Collingdale Police Department, newly sworn-in officer Kevon Darden has resigned following the emergence of charges against him related to a road rage incident that occurred in April 2023. According to FOX 29, Darden faced multiple charges including terrorist threats with intent to Terrorize Another, Possession of Instrument Of Crime, and Simple Assault among others.

With the department already amid staffing woes, Darden was brought on early to alleviate shortages. However, only days after his swearing-in, details of his alleged criminal behavior were revealed, leading to a prompt resignation. The charges, as NBC10 reported, stem from an altercation where Darden is accused of aiming a gun at another driver during a road rage incident on Interstate 95.

Mayor Donna Matteo-Spadea expressed relief at not having sworn in Darden, citing a lack of information on the officer, while Borough Manager Michael Robinson pointed out that the charged officer was one of several recently approved by the borough council and noted the troubling convenience of the timing of these charges, linking it to the historical resistance to integrating Black officers into police departments. "The charges are unsettling, but they are over two years old. And I question why the district attorney waited until today to investigate this matter," Robinson told FOX 29.

Despite a background check that allegedly came back clean, the Pennsylvania State Police had already filed a criminal complaint against Darden, detailing the road rage incident. "It was shocking and a little skeptical at the same time because these charges were not there prior to today," Collingdale Police Chief Shanee Mitchell said, as stated by PHL17. Meanwhile, the president of the local Fraternal Order of Police, Christopher Eiserman, accused the department of mismanagement, questioning the thoroughness of Darden's background check.

Robinson spoke to NBC10 about the hiring process, insisting two background checks had cleared Darden and expressing concerns over whether race played a role in the sudden charges. "This is the question we have: Why did you not provide us this information prior? It's very clear that people in the District Attorney's Office and possibly the State Police knew exactly what they were going to provide us," he elaborated. Darden himself stated he intends to fight the charges, as he aspired to serve his community as an officer.