MEDIA — A man alleges a Borough of Darby police officer used excessive force by firing a gun into his car.
Calvin White filed a complaint April 18 against Officer James Kelso and Borough of Darby alleging excessive force, assault and battery and other claims.
White alleges in his complaint that Kelso fired a gunshot at him while he was in a moving car in Delaware County on May 5, 2020. He claims at the time, he did not pose any threat to police officers or the community and that Kelso used unreasonable force.
White alleges that as a result of the gunshot, he suffered injury from a bullet to his foot. He further alleges that the Borough of Darby has a "custom of practice" of ignoring appropriate use of force and that it failed to properly train its officers.
He also alleges that the Borough of Darby's policies and practices led its officers to believe they could violate his constitutional rights. White claims that Kelso's actions caused him to suffer emotional, developmental, financial and psychiatric harm and that Kelso acted with extreme negligence when he fired his gun into his vehicle. He alleges that he was injured without "due process of law" as well as in violation of his constitutional rights.
White seeks monetary relief of more than $50,000, interest and all other just relief. He is represented by Michael T. Van Der Veen of Van Der Veen, Hartshorn & Levin in Philadelphia.