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A YouTube video of feuding Delaware County police officers is making international headlines at the same time an investigation is under way in the district attorney’s office.
“Get out of Darby, get out of Darby,” Robert Smythe, chief in Darby Borough can be heard yelling at a Colwyn Borough officer while he is being restrained by fellow officers.
On March 18, police from Colwyn and Darby Boroughs responded to a call for a woman who had been beaten. At one point Darby Borough Police Chief Robert Smythe is alleged to have shut a police car door injuring Colwyn Officer Clinton Craddock, according to officials.
Smythe has not returned a call for comment.
“One of our officers was rendering air to someone who needed it,” said Tonette Pray, Colwyn council president. “It is just a shame that one officer gets hurt by another officer.”
The Delaware County district attorney’s office is investigating the altercation, said Michael Mattson, assistant district attorney. He was aware of video but would not comment further on the “evidence.”
Darby Mayor Helen Thomas said she has not seen the video. She called Smythe “a wonderful chief” and said she is waiting for the results from the district attorney’s investigations.
In the video, medics can been seen assisting someone on the ground. A police car blocks the full view. About eight police officers are on scene.
The YouTube video does not appear to show the exact moment the incident involving Smythe and Craddock occurred. Immediately after, other officers are then showing trying to separate the two.
Ex-mayor Paula Brown, who has had an acrimonious relationship with Smythe over the years, has chimed in on her Facebook page.
“So Darby made the news in the Daily Mail all the way in London, England! Hundreds of articles throughout the US and overseas in the UK and all have the same opinion … yet we can't even get an answer from our own Mayor or Council?”
Janice Davis, Darby Council president, said Brown may have had other motives when she re-posted the video on Facebook.
“She is running for council again,” said Davis. “She is making a political move out of this.”
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The marchers - holding signs that read "Free Gaza" and similar slogans - were marching toward City Hall, chanting "Hey hey, ho ho, the occupation has got to go." They were accompanied by police in cruisers and on motorcycles - and by a smaller group of pro-Israel demonstrators, who chanted their own slogans from the sidewalk.
Nine people were killed on Monday when Israeli armed forces stormed a flotilla of ships attempting to deliver supplies to the Gaza Strip.
The St. Patrick’s Day Observance Association announced the following awards for the 240th St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which was televised yesterday on The CW Philly:
Hon. James H.J. Tate Award for the group that best exemplified the spirit of the parade: McDade / Cara Championship Dancers
Msgr. Thomas J. Rilley Award for the outstanding fraternal organization: 2nd Street Irish Society
George Costello Award for the organization with the outstanding float in the parade: Cavan Society
Hon. Vincent A. Carroll Award for the outstanding musical unit (excluding grade school bands): Philadelphia Police & Fire, Pipes & Drum Band
Anthony J. Ryan Award for outstanding grade school band: Catholic Elementary Schools Marching Band
Walter Garvin Award for outstanding children's Irish dance group: Rince Ri School of Irish Dance
Marie C. Burns Award for outstanding adult dance group: Tara Gael Dancers
Joseph E. Montgomery Award for outstanding AOH and/or LAOH divisions: All AOH & LAOH Divisions
Joseph J. "Banjo" McCoy Award for outstanding fraternal organization: Cairdeas Irish Brigade
James F. Cawley Parade Director's Award for outstanding organization, selected by the parade director: Cardinal O’Hara High School Marching Band
Father Kevin C. Trautner Award for an outstanding school or religious organization that displays their Irish heritage while promoting Christian values: St. Katherine of Siena N.E. Philadelphia
Maureen McDade McGrory Award for outstanding children's Irish dance group exemplifying the spirit of Irish culture through traditional dance: Coyle School of Irish Dance
The parade will be rebroadcast on St. Patrick’s Day, Wednesday, March 17th, 9 a.m. to 12 noon on CBS 3 and again on The CW Philly from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Parade is also available at www.cbs3.com and on Comcast’s On Demand feature beginning Thursday, March 18th.
View galleryA multi-vehicle accident closed the George C. Platt Bridge for a time this morning.
No serious injuries were reported.
The crashes occurred about 9:30 a.m. and involved six vehicles, including a dump truck, in the eastbound lanes. Police also closed the westbound lanes of the truss bridge over the Schuylkill so emergency vehicles could reach the crash site.
The westbound lanes reopened at 10:30 a.m. Both eastbound lanes reopened at 11:20 a.m.
A fire in a basement storage area forced the evacuation of about 100 people from the Rittenhouse Hotel and Condominium in Rittenhouse Square this morning, officials say.
The blaze was reported at 8:26 a.m. and declared under control at 9:22 a.m.
Evacuees from the posh high rise were taken to Holy Trinity Church on the square, where the Red Cross blankets, coffee, snackes and water. They were allowed to return to the Rittenhouse at 10:30 a.m.
One person was taken to Hahnemann University Hospital for treatment of minor smoke inhalation, said Capt. Richard Grymes of the Fire Department.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, he said.
"The fire dept did a phenomenal job. They responded very very quickly and took complete control of the situation,” said David Benton, general manager of the Rittenhouse Hotel.
He said the fire caused no smoke damage in other parts of the building.
This was the second evacuation of a high rise in Center City this week.
On Monday, residents of a student apartment building on the 1300 block of Chestnut Street were forced out on the street by dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.
The Art Institute of Philadelphia students who live there still have not returned to their residences because the private landlord is still working to fix violations in the 12-story building.
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