West Caln Police Sergeant On Trial, Accused Of Shooting At Driver

WEST CHESTER, PA —A trial is underway in the Chester County Justice Center for a West Caln Township police sergeant accused of firing a shot at the car of a woman as she was driving away from a traffic stop.

Sgt. Anthony Sparano, 55, of Coatesville is accused of simple assault and propelling missiles into an occupied vehicle.

The incident occurred after midnight on Nov. 10, 2021, at the intersection of Route 340 and Octorara Trail Road in West Caln Township.

Police said Takeisha Landry, who resides in North Carolina, made an illegal turn, and Sparano turned on his lights to pull her over.

Sparano's body camera recorded their interaction, in which the woman did not comply with his request to give him her driver's license and registration, investigators said.

On Wednesday, Landry testified that she was afraid because she was in an unfamiliar area on a dark road so she started recording on her phone, according to a report by ABC6 news.

"He immediately started punching me in my face and grabbing me by my hair and pulling me out of my vehicle even though I still had my seatbelt on," she said.

Testimony continues today in the trial before Judge Allison Bell Royer.