The Democratic mayor of Atlantic City’s home was raided by armed officers last week while police were investigating a “family matter,” in what he now calls a “political” attack.
Mayor Marty Small Sr. was helping his wife load his mother-in-law into the car to take her for a blood test Monday around 8:30 a.m. Thursday when he was approached by two Atlantic City Attorney’s Office employees. said that it was FOX29 reported.
Officers later served the mayor with five search warrants for Small’s home and vehicle as part of an ongoing investigation that the mayor said he had known about for months.
“As I looked around every corner of the house, there were 20 law enforcement officers coming towards us with guns, rifles, battering rams, etc.,” Small said at a news conference about the incident Monday. Stated. According to CBS News.
After about 3 1/2 hours, law enforcement officers finally seized two of Small’s cellphones and several personal laptops, his attorney said.
Mr Small said the attack on his home was carried out in a “very aggressive and public manner”.
“We didn’t deserve that,” the mayor said. “There was nothing to hide.”
“Let me get into the politics. This is political, this is racial, because people like the fact that this mayor is giving minorities opportunities in City Hall that they didn’t have before. Because there isn’t,” he argued.
Small, who is up for re-election next year, continued: “There’s a lot of politics going on…because they know they can’t beat me in the election.”
But the raid on the home he shared with his wife, children and mother-in-law came hours before Atlantic City High School principal Constance Days Chapman was charged with failing to report to the New Jersey Department of Child Welfare. . Agency regarding allegations of abuse.
The unidentified student at the school reportedly told school officials that he had been subjected to “mental and physical abuse” by his parents, and had previously communicated this to the principal and prosecutors. That’s what it means. claimed in the press release.
When the employee confronted Days-Chapman about the allegations, she denied knowing about the initial report and said she would contact the Department of Child Protection and Permanent Residency.
Instead, prosecutors allege, the principal met with the defendant’s parents and told them what the child had said.
Days-Campbell, 37, is currently charged with official misconduct, obstruction of justice, hindering apprehension of another person and failure to report child abuse.
She previously served as Small’s campaign manager and worked for the Atlantic City School District, where his wife, LaQuetta Small, is the superintendent.
It is unclear whether the attack on Small’s residence was related to Days-Campbell’s arrest.
Mr. Small slammed rumors circulating about the timing of the arrest.
“The worst rumor ever is that my daughter was pregnant with twins and I beat her so bad that I killed the babies. I will be charged with double murder,” he said. said on the news. meeting, According to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
“My daughter is not pregnant. My daughter has never been pregnant. My daughter is not pregnant with twins,” he declared.
Small also noted that the children refer to the principal as “Aunt Maddie,” adding, “We’re on Mandy’s side and Mandy’s on our side.
“She did nothing wrong. We did nothing wrong,” he asserted.
But when asked directly whether the student mentioned in the accusations against Days-Chapman was his daughter, Small’s attorney Ed Jacobs said, “We do not respond to specific factual allegations.”
“We’re not here to try cases that haven’t been filed,” he said.
And when asked if he had hit his daughter, the mayor did not answer. NBC Philadelphia reported.
The Smalls are currently in contact with state child welfare authorities and are reportedly “receiving family therapy.”
“And this should be a family affair,” Small said at a news conference.
Jacobs said he does not expect any charges to be filed against the mayor or his wife.
“They have done nothing in any way to impede or impede the investigation,” he told CBS.
The Atlantic City Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement that its officers acted professionally during last week’s raid.
The department told investigators that “standard operating procedures and procedures in executing residential search warrants were utilized to ensure the safety of all occupants of the home, neighbors, and law enforcement alike.” Stated.
“These procedures are in place for safety reasons and these procedures will not be deviated from regardless of political, professional or social status.
“Both Mayor Small and Dr. Small were treated with dignity and respect throughout the entire process.”
