Police have raided the home of Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. as part of an investigation into a “private family case” involving child welfare authorities.
Mayor Marty Small Sr. spoke at a news conference Monday, claiming that the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office’s search of his home and vehicles last week was over a “private family matter” and “not a crime.”
The bizarre press conference, which contained many denials and few details, was his his wife La’Quetta S. Small, the superintendent of Atlantic City Public Schools, their two children, and attorney Ed Jacobs to address the recent allegations against him.
Although Smalls claims “he has nothing to hide,” he declined to reveal what police were looking for NBC News Philadelphia.
Mayor Marty Smalls Sr. speaks at a press conference on Monday about the search of his home and cars, while his daughter Jada Smalls and his lawyer, Edwin Jacbos (photo right), stand next to him
The mayor lives in the house with his wife, two children and mother-in-law
The mayor’s vehicles were also part of the search by the prosecutor’s office
“We don’t have any money from the Atlantic City Housing Authority. We don’t have any City of Atlantic City money on hand. “I didn’t steal anything,” he said and CBS News Philadelphia reported.
“My wife did not bring money from the Atlantic City Board of Education to our home as alleged. No, we don’t have any drugs in the house. And no, we don’t have any weapons.’
‘This confirms that I am human. This is a human element, this is a family issue. And everyone who works in this organization always says that family comes first,” he said.
On Thursday, the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office executed five search warrants at the mayor’s home. Vehicles, mobile phones and laptops were seized.
Small said: ‘They did all this just for a mobile phone and laptops because they want to think there is some form of communication taking place.’
Smalls said the investigation was something he knew had been going on for three to four months, calling it “rumor,” especially when it involved his daughter Jada.
Jada is a sophomore at Atlantic City High School.
He said that despite the combined degrees he and his wife have, there is no book to help you deal with the challenges you face in raising teenagers.
The 50-year-old civil servant, who took office in 2019, firmly denied several rumors about his case
One of the rumors the mayor talked about was about his teenage daughter’s pregnancy with twins. NBC News Philadelphia reported.
The 50-year-old civil servant, who took office in 2019, firmly denied the rumor.
‘My daughter is not pregnant. My daughter has never been pregnant. My daughter is not pregnant with twins,” the mayor said.
He also suggested that law enforcement officials targeted his office for political reasons and that the media must connect the dots.
However, Smalls’ attorney said at the end of the conference that it was did not claim the search of the mayor’s home was politically motivated, but they “ruled nothing out,” a report said.
On the same day of the search warrant, Constance Days-Chapman, 37, was arrested The principal of Atlantic City High School was accused of failing to report a child abuse allegation to a state child welfare agency.
The minor reportedly told Days-Chapman that she was “emotionally and physically abused by her parents.” The administrator later met with the accused parents to tell them what their child had said.
Days-Chapman was charged with official misconduct, obstruction of justice and related offenses. The indictment is based on a summons, according to the Public Prosecution Service.
He also suggested that law enforcement targeted his office for political reasons and that the media needed to connect the dots
The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office released a statement on the mayor’s investigation, saying their officers acted appropriately during their arrest.
It is unclear whether the investigation into the mayor is related to Days-Chapman’s arrest.
The mayor and Chapman have a professional and personal relationship.
Days-Chapman, council chair of the Atlantic City Democratic Committee, served as Small’s campaign manager and voiced his support for her.
He said at the press conference that she is affectionately called ‘Aunt Maddy’ by his children and said: ‘We support you Mandy, you have done absolutely nothing wrong.’
The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office released a statement on the investigation, saying their officers acted appropriately during their search.
“Standard procedures and protocols in executing search warrants were used to ensure the safety of all residents of the residence, neighbors and law enforcement,” the office said in a statement.
The prosecutor’s office did not reveal the nature of the investigation or release any possible findings or items removed from the mayor’s home, police said. Philadelphia researcher.