Collingdale police officer, sworn in this week, resigns after being charged in alleged 2023 road-rage incident

A part-time Collingdale Borough police officer who was sworn in on Sunday to help with a staffing shortage was criminally charged four days later for an alleged 2023 road-rage incident and has resigned.

Kevon Darden, 28, of Ambler, was charged with several misdemeanors, including making terroristic threats, for allegedly pointing a gun at another motorist on April 5, 2023, on the Blue Route in Ridley Township, according to the criminal complaint filed Thursday by the Pennsylvania State Police.

Trooper Paul Holdefer, a state police spokesperson, said in an email that the case was delayed for 21 months because the forensic evidence was sent to a lab and “took quite a while to process and receive which held up the case.”

Holdefer continued: “In addition, input was needed from the Delaware County District Attorney’s office. When the final charges were approved by the DA, the Trooper filed the appropriate criminal complaint and affidavit of probable cause. While not common, there are times and circumstances that delay the filing of charges. This appears to be one of those instances.”

The affidavit of probable cause included with the criminal complaint states that Darden voluntarily submitted to a gunshot residue test of himself and his car. The person who reported the incident, a dump truck driver, told the state trooper that “he heard a loud bang that he believed was a gunshot.”

Darden, who denied firing his gun, according to the affidavit, could not be reached for comment Friday evening.

At the time of the alleged road-rage incident, Darden was working as a police officer at Cheyney University. Prior to that, he worked as a police officer in Yeadon Borough and as a part-time officer in Darby Borough.

It was not immediately clear why he left those departments and if all were part-time jobs.

A spokesperson for Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer could not be reached for comment.

Collingdale Police Chief Shanee N. Mitchell said in an email that Darden passed two background checks conducted by the Pennsylvania State Police. This week, however, the state police told her that he was under investigation and the charges had been approved by the district attorney. In an email the state police sent to Mitchell this week, they said: “The firearm that he used during the event was seized and is still at our lab pending analysis.”

In an interview Friday night, Borough Manager C. Michael Robinson also said Darden passed two background checks conducted by the state police.

Robinson and Mitchell said Darden submitted his resignation on Thursday, the day the charges were filed.

There are currently five full-time police officers working in Collingdale, Robinson said, explaining that the borough has a capacity for 14 full- and part-time officers.

To deal with the understaffing, Mayor Donna Matteo-Spadea last fall reached an arrangement with the state police to help with overnight police coverage, which is still ongoing, Robinson said.

On Sunday, with an added unavailability of officers, Robinson, the borough manager, announced in a statement that Darden had been sworn in as a part-time officer to work immediately.

Matteo-Spadea said in a statement on Wednesday that despite the understaffing problems, she declined to personally swear in Darden.

“When I received a request to swear in an Officer, Sunday afternoon, whom I have never met or had any qualifications to go over, I had to make a difficult decision. I had to think about the potential risks and consequences, and as a caring leader, I will always prioritize our community’s and Officers’ well-being. Working on the street alone, with no training for your first tour of duty, is unacceptable,” Matteo-Spadea said.

Darden was sworn in using a notary public, Robinson said.

Last fall, Collingdale was roiled with controversy when the borough council attempted to hire a Chester police officer as the chief. The president of the Delaware County police union objected and said Rhaheem Blanden was under criminal investigation for alleged misconduct while with the Chester police.

The borough decided against Blanden and instead hired Mitchell.

Court records show no charges have been filed in Delaware County against Blanden since the Collingdale controversy erupted.

On Sunday, Chris Eiserman, the police union president and also deputy police chief in Folcroft, immediately criticized the hiring of Darden.

“What is occurring in Collingdale Borough is a total disgrace. The Council President is incompetent and has no clue how to operate a municipality. Sources now tell me they are going to hire a part-time officer who is under active criminal investigation by the State Police,” Eiserman posted on X.

Staff writer Vinny Vella contributed to this article.