Delaware
Community enraged amid investigation into Delaware County police chief candidate
COLLINGDALE, Pennsylvania (WPVI) — Residents in Collingdale, Delaware County, expressed their outrage on Tuesday night over local leaders trying to make a controversial hire for the town’s police chief.
“How dare you even contemplate putting someone under investigation as our chief of police when we had a damn good chief of police,” one resident said during an intense meeting.
Back in June, despite opposition from residents and some Collingdale officers, the city council voted 5-2 to remove former police chief Patrick Kilroy.
Council members in Collingdale, Delaware County have voted to remove the borough’s police chief.
On Tuesday, the council was set to finalize the employment of a new chief, Raheem Blanden.
The Delaware County Police Union says Blanden is on leave from his job as a Chester police officer and is under investigation for alleged misconduct on the force.
“He’s under criminal investigation because he allegedly tipped off a homicide suspect that the SWAT team was on their way to the house to apprehend him,” explained Christopher Eiserman, president of the FOP Delaware County Lodge 27.
Action News spoke with Blanden as he was leaving the town meeting Tuesday night.
“I don’t know anything about a criminal investigation with the Criminal Investigation Division,” he said.
Blanden also confirmed he had interviewed for the police chief job in Collingdale. He says he’s ready to take it, despite the backlash from community members.
“I think they are making me the focal point, but this is about the council members,” he said.
As Blanden went back into the building, there were tense moments between him and other officers.
The night was defined by these uneasy moments. One instance was when the council president denied union representatives the opportunity to speak during a time for public comments.
The meeting ultimately led to a recess and then an abrupt cancellation.
Action News tried to speak with the council president about why he believes Blanden is the right person for the job.
“No comment,” replied Ryan Hastings, the Collingdale Borough council president.
The mayor of Collingdale expressed her opposition to the proposed hire.
“There is no way we should ever, ever think about hiring someone who is under investigation,” said Mayor Donna Matteo-Spadea.
Authorities have not provided any further information on Blanden’s alleged misconduct, but the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office did confirm he was under investigation.
There is also no word yet from Collingdale leaders on what will happen next in the hiring process for a police chief. The next meeting to address the issue is set to be held sometime in October.
Local authorities did emphasize in a statement made Tuesday afternoon that the hiring of a police chief is a public matter.
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Delaware
Delaware crabshack remains enthusiastic despite increased crab prices – 47abc
Long Neck, Del. – Although crab prices remain high, one business owner remains passionate about serving this eastern shore delicacy.
As crab season approaches, No.1 Fresh Steamed Crabs is determined to keep prices fair for the sake of making their customers satisfied.
“It’s really hard in this business…” says owner, Carlos Batres. “…the prices of crabs right now usually in the beginning of the season are really up high…”
Starting out humbly by selling crabs from a truck, to a professional location, Carlos Batres still faces pressure from unrelenting prices. Many factors influence the increased prices, including the long winter keeping waters from warming up, leading to lower birth rates in blue crabs, giving watermen less to catch. Despite these issues, Batres remains passionate to keep his prices as low as he can, and source locally.
For more information on No.1 Fresh Steamed Crabs, view their Facebook page here.
Delaware
Delaware State football player sues DeSean Jackson, school after alleged locker room assault
A Delaware State football player has filed a lawsuit against the school and head coach DeSean Jackson. The suit came after an alleged locker room assault.
Rising sophomore safety Malachi Biggs is listed as the plaintiff in the suit, filed Thursday in the Superior Court for the State of Delaware. Jackson, DSU, associate head coach Travis Clark, a player and another staff member are listed as defendants.
According to a copy of the complaint obtained by On3, the alleged incident occurred on or about Nov. 19, 2025. Biggs arrived early to receive treatment and went to the locker room when he saw at least two other players there. While there, one of the players confronted another player about an Instagram post.
He then walked up to Biggs and allegedly placed him in a chokehold, according to the complaint. The player allegedly ignored Biggs’ attempts to “tap out” even though he was told he’d be let go by doing so and was later rendered unconscious.
After hitting the ground, Biggs suffered injuries to his head, face, mouth, tongue and teeth, according to the complaint. His injuries included “multiple fractures to his jaw, a deep laceration to his chin requiring surgery, and irreparable damage to at least a dozen teeth requiring extraction, root canals, and additional invasive dental treatments,” the complaint read.
The complaint states the player was not disciplined by Jackson, who was in his first year as head coach, and was allowed to play in a game three days after the alleged incident. Jackson and Clark addressed the alleged incident in a team meeting. After graduating from the school in 2026, the player was then employed as a member of the coaching staff, the complaint said.
Biggs is suing DSU for a count of negligence; a count of negligent hiring, supervision and retention; and negligent training. Jackson and two players are also listed as defendants facing charges of negligence, negligent supervision, and negligent infliction of emotional distress. When asked for comment, a school spokesperson told On3 that Delaware State does not comment on pending litigation.
“Our lawsuit alleges that the Delaware State University and its staff failed in their responsibility to adequately supervise these student athletes and failed to properly discipline violent behaviors,” said Morgan & Morgan founder John Morgan and attorney Georgia Pham, who are representing Biggs, in a statement to On3. “By dismissing violent assaults as mere ‘horseplay,’ the University and coach DeSean Jackson allegedly fostered a toxic culture of bullying and hazing in the locker room.
“Our client came to this University to play the game he loved. Instead, he’s leaving with catastrophic injuries that may be career-ending and have permanently derailed his life. These alleged systemic failures led to this predictable and preventable tragedy that ripped away the life he had always dreamed of.”
Delaware State went 8-4 in Jackson’s first season as head coach in 2025. The former NFL receiver, who made his mark with the Philadelphia Eagles, was named HBCU Coach of the Year.
Delaware
Body found near Bowers Beach – 47abc
BOWERS BEACH, Del. – Delaware State Police say a body was found near Bowers Beach on Tuesday.
Around 12:40 p.m. on April 21, Delaware State Police, Delaware Natural Resources Police and local fire companies responded to the Delaware Bay, about a mile offshore from the Bowers Beach area after commercial watermen discovered an unknown deceased man in the water.
The victim was recovered and turned over to the Office of Forensic Science for identification and to determine the cause of death.
The investigation remains active and on-going.
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