What to Know
- Darby Borough Mayor Darren Burrell was arrested and charged with attacking a councilmember during a public meeting earlier in November.
- The incident occurred during a meeting at the Darby Borough Municipal Building on 1020 Ridge Avenue in Darby, Pennsylvania, back on Nov. 2, shortly before 8:30 p.m., investigators said.
- Burrell allegedly punched councilman Omar Thompson. Thompson suffered a concussion and other injuries, according to a criminal complaint.
The mayor of a Delaware County borough is accused of attacking a councilmember during a public meeting earlier in November.
Darby Borough Mayor Darren Burrell, 41, was arrested and charged with simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and harassment.
The incident occurred during a meeting at the Darby Borough Municipal Building on 1020 Ridge Avenue in Darby, Pennsylvania, back on Nov. 2, shortly before 8:30 p.m., investigators said.
Get top local stories in Philly delivered to you every morning. Sign up for NBC Philadelphia's News Headlines newsletter.
Mayor Burrell was taking part in an informational meeting with Darby Borough council members and officials. The group was discussing traffic control and vehicular issues when the conversation between Burrell and councilman Omar Thompson became “heated,” according to the criminal complaint.
Burrell then allegedly threatened to attack Thompson.
After the informational meeting ended, Burrell, Thompson and the other council members moved to attend the public meeting in the public meeting room.
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
After that meeting ended, Burrell asked Thompson if he could speak with him, according to the complaint. Witnesses told investigators the two men were sitting 15 feet apart at the time.
As the two men spoke, Burrell allegedly got out of his seat, approached Thompson and punched him. He then grabbed Thompson, causing him to fall to the floor, according to the complaint.
Thompson was taken to Mercy-Fitzgerald Hospital in Darby where he was treated for a concussion as well as injuries to his hand, leg, elbow and finger, investigators said.
Burrell was arrested and later released on $35,000 unsecured bail.
The Darby Borough Council discussed Burrell's arrest during a meeting Wednesday night. In a statement, Darby Borough Council President Rudy Taylor called Burrell's arrest a "dark day in Darby's history."
"I want to make it clear and unequivocal," Taylor wrote. "There is no excuse for violence in this body or in public life. The men and women who sit on this podium sometimes engage in vigorous debate about contentious issues. But we must always remain civil. It is what the people who elected us deserve and expect."
The Delaware County District Attorney's Office confirmed the alleged attack was captured on surveillance video and is now part of their evidence. They have not released the footage however.
Former Darby Mayor Paula Brown filed a right-to-know request for the borough council to release the footage.
"Transparency," Brown said. "Everything, as you can see here is done in a backroom."
