YouTube video captures dispute between Darby, Colwyn police

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. Smythe was being led away by officers.

On March 18, police from Colwyn and Darby Boroughs responded to a call for a woman who had been beaten. At one point, Smythe is alleged to have shut a police car's door, injuring Colwyn Officer Clinton Craddock, according to one official.

Smythe did not return a call for comment.

"One of our officers was rendering aid to someone who needed it," Colwyn Council President Tonette Pray said Monday. "It is just a shame that one officer gets hurt by another officer."

The Delaware County District Attorney's Office is investigating the incident, 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 had not seen the video. She called Smythe "a wonderful chief" and said she was waiting for the results from the district attorney's investigations.

The Colwyn officer was flagged down by a pedestrian to help the woman, according to officials.

The location, near Fifth and Commerce Streets, was about a block inside Darby. It is not unusual for officers from suburban municipalities to assist in other nearby jurisdictions.

In the video, medics can been seen assisting someone on the ground. A police car blocks the full view. About eight police officers are at the scene.

The YouTube video does not appear to show the exact moment the incident involving Smythe and Craddock occurred. Immediately after that, other officers are seen trying to separate the two.

Former Mayor Paula Brown, who has had an acrimonious relationship with Smythe over the years, chimed in on her Facebook page with a posting Saturday.

"So Darby made the news in the Daily Mail all the way in London, England! Hundreds of articles throughout the U.S. and overseas in the U.K. 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 reposted the video on Facebook.

"She is running for council again," Davis said. "She is making a political move out of this."