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Former Delco assistant fire chief faces charges in alleged racist attack

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Former Delco assistant fire chief faces charges in alleged racist attack


SHARON HILL, Pa. (WPVI) — Leaders in Delaware County gathered on Thursday to condemn an alleged racist attack in Darby Township back in late November.

State lawmakers, members of county council, local police, and the Delaware County Black Caucus were all in attendance.

“We will not tolerate this type of behavior in Darby Township without a consequence,” said Darby Township Police Chief Mike Sousa.

The man at the center of the investigation is former Sharon Hill Assistant Fire Chief John Romano.

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Sharon Hill Council President Tanya Allen said Romano has been suspended by the fire company’s Board of Trustees, and the borough has also severed ties.

“Our community and our neighbors deserve to feel comfort and safety when thinking about a first responder coming and what perspective that person has of them,” Allen said.

The borough also released the following statement on December 31 at https://sharonhillboro.com/about-us/news/statement-from-sharon-hill-borough-council/

The victim says the attack began as Romano blocked traffic on Hook Road loading trees onto a truck in front of J&P Fence, a business he once owned, according to someone who works there.

Drivers were honking their horns and the victim says she was second in a line of seven cars.

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She says Romano let the first car pass, but when she went to drive by, Romano used his truck to stop her.

An affidavit alleges he hurled racial slurs and epithets and shot video of her license plate.

Romano now faces charges of disorderly conduct, harassment, terroristic threats, and ethnic intimidation. Police confirm there is body camera video of the incident.

“The officers that were involved were shocked as much as I was shocked after reviewing it and brought it right to my attention and the charges were filed. It was pretty cut and dry and that easy,” said Chief Sousa.

Action News tried to reach Romano at home for comment but no one answered the door. Another worker at J&P Fence told Action News Romano hadn’t worked there for months.

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During Thursday’s press conference, State Senator Anthony Williams was critical of Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer’s absence despite being invited.

“I’m saying this with yes, a level of frustration and anger because this same person has come to our community, specifically African Americans, on a number of occasions saying look, I need us to change how Delaware County is viewed. You’re not changing a damn thing when you’re not here!” Williams said forcefully.

During his own news conference, Stollsteimer condemned Romano’s alleged actions and called them heinous but cited the ethics of his position for not attending.

“My understanding from the letter Senator Williams sent to me was they were going to call on an economic boycott of the defendant’s alleged business. I cannot be party to that,” Stollsteimer said. “My ethical duty is to make sure that I am only saying statements related to the facts of the prosecution.”

Stollsteimer went on to say, “My number one duty, unlike a politician who can stand at a press conference and say whatever they want, I actually have a responsibility to make sure something happens, something, in this case, positive happens for the community and that is he is held accountable for the hatred he showed to the victim.”

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On Thursday, Stollsteimer also shot back over criticism from Williams of his decision not to release the video it at the time.

“Absolutely not. That is evidence of a crime. It’s not a prop for a press conference, it is evidence of a crime and I would be outside of my ethical duties as district attorney. There is no legitimate law enforcement purpose to release to the public that video evidence until such time as he has gone through the criminal justice process,” Stollsteimer said.

Romano has a preliminary hearing in Delaware County on February 18.

A hearing with the Sharon Hill Fire Company regarding his suspension is also set for February.

Copyright © 2025 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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Delaware

Body cam video released of deadly police shooting in Wilmington, Delaware

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Body cam video released of deadly police shooting in Wilmington, Delaware


WILMINGTON, Del. (WPVI) — The family of Kadir Skinner is calling for criminal charges against the police officer who shot the 19-year-old after the release of officer body camera footage that attorneys say contradicts the police account of the incident.

The shooting happened June 24 after 11 p.m. at 24th and Jessup streets.

Calls grow for body cam video in deadly Wilmington police shooting

Body camera video shows an officer drawing and firing his weapon while yelling commands. In the footage, officers can be heard saying, “He’s got a gun,” as they approach Skinner, who is on the ground.

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Skinner repeatedly tells officers he is unarmed and says he cannot breathe.

“I don’t got nothing. I don’t got nothing,” Skinner says in the video.

Footage shows officers handcuffing Skinner and kneeling on him while he continues to say, “I don’t got nothing. I can’t breathe.”

Skinner was shot in the rear.

READ MORE | ‘We need answers’: Family disputes details after man killed in Wilmington police shooting

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A second body camera angle shows a crowd forming as officers instruct people to back up.

Video from a third responding officer appears to show an officer picking something up from the grass and returning toward the crowd and the officers with Skinner.

In the footage, an officer can be heard saying, “Secure the gun,” and the officer wearing the body cam says, “I have it.”

Attorneys for Skinner’s family, along with family members and community supporters, gathered at Shiloh Baptist Church in Wilmington following the release of the video to demand justice.

“Regardless if he had a gun or not, he was still shot in the back, running from police, not having been a threat,” attorney Harry Daniels said.

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SEE ALSO | Family releases witness video after 19-year-old fatally shot by police in Wilmington

Attorney Chance Lynch said the footage showed “an unjustified killing.”

“What we saw and what we witnessed was an unjustified killing,” Lynch said.

Attorneys for the family contend the video disputes the police version of events. Wilmington police previously said Skinner came out of a home armed and waved a gun at a crowd before officers opened fire.

“The video that I saw, I didn’t see a crowd, and I did not see Kadir coming out of a residence. I did not see a crowd, and I did not see Kadir pointing a firearm at a crowd,” Lynch said.

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Attorneys and the family maintain that Skinner was running from a loose dog.

The family also announced a $25 million claim against the city of Wilmington for wrongful death. They are seeking criminal charges against the officer who shot Skinner.

The Delaware Department of Justice is investigating.

Copyright © 2026 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.



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Delaware

Delaware oversight commission debates authority to reject utility rate hikes

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Delaware oversight commission debates authority to reject utility rate hikes


Delmarva Power objects to applying legislation to interim rate

The debate among commissioners over the breadth of their oversight on utility rates comes as the company has pushed back on the group, limiting its interim rate increase to half of its total request, even while it faced criticism from commissioners that it is “cruel” and “tone deaf” for continuing to press for rate hikes.

Delmarva Power, an investor-owned utility, serves 344,000 residential and nonresidential customers in the state. Its parent company, Exelon Corporation, is the nation’s largest regulated electric and gas utility.

Its customers pay a supply and a delivery charge for gas and electricity. The supply of energy comes from PJM Interconnection, a regional grid serving Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and several other states. Delmarva Power profits through the distribution fee.

Delmarva Power Region President Marcus Beal said they need to file rate hike requests to recoup money it spends on improving and maintaining the infrastructure.

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“Our equipment is extremely expensive, the items that we buy, the transformers, they’re very large, complex things to build,” Beal said. “Even something as simple as a treated pole of a certain size can be very pricey, so we spend a lot of money on the grid itself.”

Under Delaware law, interim rates can be approved seven months after a rate case is filed, while the full petition is being considered by the commission. Prior to the legislation, 100% of the rate request could be implemented. The bill caps interim rates at 50% and allows 75% of the ask to go into effect after 12 months. The bill also puts limits on Delmarva Power’s infrastructure spending.

Delmarva Power spokesperson Matt Ford said the commission overstepped its authority to cut the interim rate as much as they did and the company has argued in its PSC submissions that SB 326 did not apply to the rate increase request filed in December because it had yet to be signed into law. Meyer said he signed the bill Monday.

“Delmarva Power further reserves its objections to the applicability of the legislation, should it become effective, including its impermissible retroactive application,” the utility company said in comments filed Monday afternoon with the commission.

In addition, Delmarva Power has objected to halving $23.2 million in distribution system improvement charges as part of the interim rate commissioners approved. The fee allows utility companies to recover project costs and depreciation between full rate case proceedings.

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“My suggestion is, if you don’t like it, appeal it,” Iorii said.

It’s unclear whether the utility plans to appeal the order. Ford said they were reviewing it and its implications.

Tweedie said he hopes they decide not to appeal.

“If they appeal this, what they are essentially saying is, ‘We want to extract more money from our customers than the commission intended to allow,’” he said.



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Delaware man identified after fatal pedestrian crash

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Delaware man identified after fatal pedestrian crash


Delaware State Police have identified the man who was struck and killed by a vehicle while lying on the roadway in Harrington, Delaware.

On Monday, July 13, 2026, Jimmy Burgess, 62, was struck by a Chevrolet Silverado driving westbound near the 1500 block of Whiteleysburg Road.

According to police, the Silverado, which was operated by a 17-year-old boy from Milton, Delaware, was unable to stop once he saw Burgess on the road, striking him. The driver of the Silverado was not injured during the crash.

Burgess was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead, said police.

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The roadway was closed for approximately three hours while the scene was investigated and cleared.

The Delaware State Police Troop 3 Collison Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate this crash.

Troopers ask anyone with information about the crash contact Sergeant M. Long at (302) 698-8518.

Information can also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police, or by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-(800) 847-3333

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