Ex Philly Cop Assaulted Woman During 2020 Unrest: DA's Office

Philadelphia PA

21 April, 2022

2:14 PM

Description

PHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia Police officer who was fired in last year has been charged with assault and related crimes after authorities said he beat a woman caught amid unrest following a 2020 killing by police. Darren Kardos, 42, of Philadelphia, is charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, possession of an instrument of crime, and criminal mischief, court records show. The charges stem from an Oct. 27, 2020 incident in West Philadelphia where unrest over the police killing of Walter Wallace Jr. took place. According to the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, officers stopped Rickia Young, 28, at about 1 a.m. that night. Young was driving an SUV with her toddler and a teenager as passengers when she found herself at a police blockade on Chestnut Street established as a response to unrest. The attempted to turn around to leave the area. Video of the incident that went viral showed police swarming her vehicle. Kardos is accused of breaking the windows, pulling Young out by her hair, and beating her with his baton. Young was taken into custody by police but later released with no charges, and authorities said Young did not know where her child was for hours. In addition to that video being shared widely, a photo on the national Fraternal Order of Police's Facebook page claimed officers rescued a child — later identified as Young's child — who was wandering alone amid the unrest. "This child was lost during the violent riots in Philadelphia, wandering around barefoot in an area that was experiencing complete lawlessness," the caption on the since-deleted post reads. "The only thing this Philadelphia Police Officer cared about in that moment was protecting this child. We are not your enemy. We are the Thing Blue Line. And WE ARE the only thing standing between Order and Anarchy." The aforementioned video also shows an officer carrying Young's child out of the vehicle. Philadelphia paid Young a $2 million settlement in connection with the incident, and she is suing the national Fraternal Order of the Police over the photo. Kardos turned himself in to authorities on April 15 on the charges. He was released on his own recognizance with no bail set. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 29. Kardos was a 9-year veteran of the force and last served in the 19th district.