Members of the Pennsylvania State Police spoke at the Chadds Ford Township Board of Supervisors’ meeting Wednesday night, updating attendees on some crime statistics and on a July incident that may have racial overtones.
Sgt. William C. Slaton, the Heritage Affairs commander out of Harrisburg, touched on the incident involving Rodney and Angela Gillespie who live on Atwater Road. They, and one of their daughters were driving home from New Jersey at about 12:30 a.m. on July 8.
The Gillespies are black and a state trooper pulled them over after, the trooper alleged, Rodney Gillespie crossed a double yellow line as they were turning onto Atwater from Webb Road. Gillespie continued up the street to the family’s home. The trooper followed and handcuffed Rodney Gillespie for a period of time. According to Gillespie, it was a case of “driving while black” and a complaint was filed.
Slaton — who also investigated the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh and other race-based crimes — said the state police take such allegations seriously and are strongly investigated. The investigation into this case is nearly complete, he told supervisors, but the report would likely not be released to the public.
“That would be up to the Gillespies,” he said.
Slaton explained that should the investigation show the allegations of profiling to be false, the department would not want to embarrass the family, that it would be up to the Gillespies to go public or not.
Lt. James Hennigan, commander at Troop K, Media Station, also updated the board and those attending the meeting that overall, crime in the township is down. He said there have been 35 burglaries reported in Chadds Ford so far this year, but that’s down from 56 at the same time last year. He also said troopers made 900 traffic stops so far this year. There have been 141 crashes s to date — most on Routes 1 and 202 — and 19 DUI arrests.
Other business
• Supervisors announced the township is applying for a $500,000 grant through the Delaware County planning Department Greenways Grant Program. If approved, $250,000 would go to a conservation group toward the purchase of the old Goodman Farm on Oakland Road, said Supervisors’ Chairman Frank Murphy. That property was part of the previously approved Wonderland Farms PRD. Murphy said he couldn’t comment further because of contracts.
• The board also approved two massage permit applications. One new facility will be in Springwater Plaza on Route 202 and the other will be at 1598 Baltimore Pike.
• Also approved Wednesday night was the special events permit for the annual Great Pumpkin Carve at the Chadds Ford Historical Society.
About Rich Schwartzman
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
