Delco judge bars from his courtroom a police officer who made critical statement about bail
A Delaware County judge has booted a Folcroft police officer out of his courtroom - forever. District Judge Steven A. Sandone filed a court order to recuse himself from "any and all matters" in which Sgt. Christopher Eiserman is a party or witness, according to court documents.
A Delaware County judge has booted a Folcroft police officer out of his courtroom - forever.
District Judge Steven A. Sandone filed a court order to recuse himself from "any and all matters" in which Sgt. Christopher Eiserman is a party or witness, according to court documents.
"It is ridiculous," said Robert Ruskowski, chief of police in Folcroft.
Efforts to reach Sandone were not successful. A woman at his office in neighboring Darby hung up witout taking a message.
According to the "Standards of Conduct of Magisterial District Judges," Sandone is within the law to disqualify himself in which his impartiality might be questioned including if the judge ". . . has a personal bias or prejudice concerning a party or a party's lawyer . . . "
The situation developed after Allen Burton, 23, was arrested by county and Folcroft police on drug and weapons charges, said Ruskowski.
Bail was originally set at 10 percent of $50,000 but later changed to 10 percent of $25,0000 by Sandone after the officers had left the court, he said.
Eiserman, who is the Folcroft police department spokesman, fielded a call from a Delaware County Times reporter asking about the reduction in bail and was quoted in the story expressing his frustration.
"Here is a situation where they set his bail and once our officer leaves the court, they appease the defendant and lower the bail so he can get out and sell drugs on our streets," Eiserman was quoted as saying.
The department later tweeted out "Sgt. Eiserman is having his cases removed from Darby Twp Sandone's Court for questioning bail on defendant."
The circumstances with Burton's arrest for drugs and weapons are similar to those of another defendant who shot a Folcroft officer in June, said Eiserman.
Donte Brooks Island, 33, was charged with attempted murder and other related offenses after allegedly shooting Officer Christopher Dorman, who was responding to a call about a man dealing drugs.
According to the court order, Eiserman will have to file cases before Judge James J. Merkins, in Springfield Township, about five miles away.
Ruskowski said his small department is still reeling from the shooting of Officer Dorman.
"We get questioned all the time, but you can't question a magistrate?" Ruskowski said. "If [Sandone] doesn't like what we have to say, he can kick us all out."
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