Delco officials condemn hatred as firefighter accused of yelling racist slurs faces criminal charges. Here’s what you need to know.

Political leaders in Delaware County gathered outside the Darby Township police station Thursday to condemn hatred after a worker with a local fencing company and volunteer firefighter allegedly threatened a woman and used a string of racial slurs in an apparent road rage incident in November.

“I’m not usually speechless but I was just stunned at how arrogant and what he really believes in his heart to be what America looks like,” State Sen. Anthony Williams, a Democrat who represents part of Delaware County, said at the news conference.

The man who allegedly made the threats, John Romano, was criminally charged with terroristic threats, harassment and ethnic intimidation in November. But Williams and the Delaware County Black Caucus called for any governments who held contracts with the company to sever their relationships.

Here’s what you need to know:

Romano’s charges stem from an incident outside J&P Fencing, a company that he cofounded, in Folcroft on Nov. 21.

On the day of the incident, Darby Township Police were called to the company’s location on Hook Road because of reports that a man loading trees onto a forklift was blocking the road and shouting racial slurs at the driver of a Chevrolet Camaro, according to the affidavit of probable cause for Romano’s arrest.

The driver told police that the man, later identified as Romano, called her a “monkey” after she honked at him, took a photo of her license plate, and demanded to know where she lived.

Romano did not return a request for comment Friday, nor did his attorney, Scott Galloway.

The driver, whom The Inquirer is not naming because reporters were unable to reach her before publishing, told police that Romano threatened physical violence.

“I moved here thinking it was a safe neighborhood for my family,” she told police, according to the affidavit. “Now I feel that he will have people come after me because he took a picture of the plate.”

Romano later told police that the driver had run over the forks of his forklift and nearly hit an employee, the affidavit said. He told police that he had called the driver “a n—” and told her to “go get a banana.”

“I’ll tell ya what I said, I’ll say it again, it’s my belief, they’re all animals. I’m tired of dealing with them,” Romano allegedly told police before questioning why he couldn’t use the racial epithet. Later, he denied saying it, but admitted to telling the driver to get a banana and said it was because she is a “wild animal,” according to the affidavit.

A Facebook account attributed to Romano posted a picture of a Camaro on Nov. 21, alleging that its driver “almost hit a man and block[ed] traffic for a few minutes” on Hook Road about 8:30 a.m., the time and location of the alleged altercation.

The post also asked potential witnesses to come forward with any information about the incident.

Romano, 46, cofounded J&P Fencing in 1996, according to the company’s website. However, a receptionist who answered the phone at the business on Friday said that Romano had not been employed there since about June, and has not been a co-owner in the company since 2014.

The receptionist explained that Romano was working a “one-day” contract with J&P on the day the alleged incident was reported, helping to pick up Christmas trees.

Romano also served as an assistant fire chief at the Sharon Hill Fire Company, an all-volunteer station in the Delaware County borough. However, Sharon Hill Borough Council President Tanya Allen said Friday that Romano was suspended from service after his arrest, and that officials are considering expelling him from the fire department, pending the outcome of his criminal prosecution.

In a statement, the council members said they “took immediate action to protect our public and its interests” after learning about the charges Romano faces, including “severing all ties” with him and revoking his access to borough property.

At the news conference arranged by Williams on Thursday, local and state leaders, including members of the Delaware County Council, called for any government contracts with the company to be canceled. They also urged Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer to release video of the incident recorded on police body cameras.

Williams, who arranged the news conference, said he wasn’t aware of the situation until The Spirit, a local outlet in Delaware County, first published a story in mid-December.

“What happened in Darby Township last month is unacceptable,” said Malcolm Yates, a member of the Delaware County Black Caucus. “The ethnic intimidation demonstrated by Mr. Romano has no place especially here in Delaware County and especially someone who receives county contracts, most importantly someone who serves as a volunteer firefighter.”

Delaware County officials said the county holds no contracts with J&P fencing, but it’s unclear if the company holds contracts with townships within the county.

“I know he won’t get a contract with the county,” County Councilman Richard Womack, a Democrat, said at the news conference.

Williams also criticized Stollsteimer for failing to attend the news conference, which he was invited to.

Stollsteimer, a Democrat, sent a letter that explained that he was unable to attend because of the pending investigation. Williams said that wasn’t enough and urged a stronger condemnation as well as the release of available video and an escalation of the charges from misdemeanor to felony.

“I’m very disappointed he’s not here, this piece of paper doesn’t hold water or weight,” Williams said.

“The words are one thing but him taking a photo of her license plate should escalate the level of what he should be charged with.”

In response to Williams’ comments Thursday, Stollsteimer told reporters that ethical guidelines limited what he could say about the investigation into Romano, which his office is actively handling.

He further explained his absence at the news conference, saying that Williams’ invite included mention of calling for the economic boycott against Romano and the company he works for, which Stollsteimer said would’ve been inappropriate for him to discuss as the county’s district attorney.

Romano’s case is scheduled for a preliminary hearing before District Judge Steven A. Sandone on Feb. 18 in Glenolden, at which prosecutors will present the evidence they’ve gathered against him.