Suit: Delco detective fired gun, hurled insults in Chester

TWO CHESTER MEN are suing a Delaware County detective for allegedly firing his gun and yelling racial epithets during a drunken freakout near Crozer Park.

The civil-rights lawsuit, filed in federal court last week by Ken Jacobs and Timothy Williams, accuses Michael Palmer, a detective in the county's Criminal Investigation Division, of "repeatedly shooting his firearm out of his truck window" as he sped into the parking lot in a GMC Sierra pickup in October 2012.

The complaint claims that Palmer and another CID officer, "with the overwhelming smell of alcohol on their breaths," got out of the truck and pointed their guns at Jacobs and Williams, saying, "get down on the ground you f-----g n-----s."

Attorney Joseph Oxman, who is representing the plaintiffs, said Palmer apparently was looking for a stolen dirt bike or four-wheeler. People in Crozer Park were riding motorcycles at the time.

"We believe he was drunk and out of control," Oxman said. "He drove into Crozer Park and started shooting up the place."

As Palmer and the other CID officer were leaving, Chester police arrived and began to pursue their pickup truck, according to the suit. Jacobs also called his aunt, a Chester police corporal.

Chester police and county detectives apparently investigated the incident, but no charges were filed against Palmer, according to Oxman. He said "several witnesses" were present for the gunfire. Neither Jacobs nor Williams was charged with a crime.

"I believe there was some sort of 'cop-friendly' approach taken toward Detective Palmer," Oxman said. "They buried it, no doubt."

Palmer could not be reached last night.

The suit also names Delaware County, Chester City and Chester police. A spokeswoman for the county District Attorney's Office said the office just became aware of the suit yesterday and was reviewing the allegations. Chester officials did not respond to requests for comment.