ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey (WPVI) — Atlantic Metropolis Mayor Marty Small addressed what he referred to as ‘rumors’ on Monday morning at a information convention after his house was searched by authorities final week.
Small, who was joined by his legal professional Ed Jacobs, mentioned the investigation is a private matter and doesn’t contain the town of Atlantic Metropolis or his constituents.
Jacobs mentioned the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Workplace has been investigating Small and his spouse. Small’s spouse, Dr. La’Quetta Small, is the superintendent of Atlantic Metropolis Colleges. Jacobs mentioned the mayor and his spouse have been cooperating with authorities.
Rumors began after photographs confirmed legislation enforcement officers outdoors Small’s Atlantic Metropolis house as a search warrant was executed on Thursday morning.
Small mentioned the search warrant was for cell telephones and laptops.
“There is no corruption. We do not have Atlantic Metropolis Housing Authority cash in our home. We do not have Metropolis of Atlantic Metropolis cash in our home. I did not steal something. My spouse did not carry Atlantic Metropolis Board of Training to our home as alleged. No, we do not have medication in our home and no, we do not have weapons,” he mentioned.
Small says this stems from a private household matter, and addressed rumors which have been spreading about his household.
“My daughter just isn’t pregnant. My daughter has by no means been pregnant. My daughter just isn’t pregnant with twins. As I mentioned, she’s by no means been pregnant,” he mentioned.
“The opposite rumor is, that they mentioned got here from an Atlantic Metropolis police officer, that mentioned my daughter received knocked up by a drug seller in Stanley Holmes village, that my spouse beat the bleep out of her whereas my son recorded the entire thing, and I simply stood there. False,” he continued.
“Probably the most egregious rumor as we speak is that my daughter was pregnant with twins. And I beat the (expletive) out of her so unhealthy that I killed the infants. And I’ll be charged with double, double homicide. And the opposite one, in the course of the raid, that they had been searching for proof of a miscarriage in my house,” Small went on to say.
He then addressed the toll that is taking over his household.
“Now, would you have the ability to deal with this like I am dealing with? Would you have the ability to take care of this? If somebody was spreading rumors in your baby and or your member of the family? I believe not,” Small mentioned.
Small mentioned 20 legislation enforcement officers confirmed up on the house with “weapons, rifles, battering rams and extra.” He mentioned it was overly aggressive and that the search lasted 3.5 hours, he mentioned.
“We didn’t deserve that,” he mentioned.
The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Workplace launched an announcement saying the search warrants had been executed in skilled method and all polies and procedures had been adopted.
“The women and men of this workplace concerned within the search carried out themselves within the highest skilled method. Customary working procedures and protocols in executing residential search warrants had been utilized to make sure the security of all occupants of the residence, neighbors, and legislation enforcement alike,” an announcement mentioned.
Small mentioned he and his spouse have been interacting with state baby welfare authorities and don’t have anything to cover.
“We’re going by way of household remedy, and that is what this must be, a household matter,” he mentioned.
No costs had been introduced towards both of the Smalls after the raid or in subsequent days.
The search warrant at Small’s home occurred the identical day the principal of Atlantic Metropolis Excessive Faculty Constance Days-Chapman was arrested.
The Atlantic County Prosecutor says Days-Chapman did not report allegations of kid abuse to correct authorities when a scholar got here ahead.
In the course of the Monday information convention, Small mentioned Days-Chapman, who his household calls “Mandy,” is an expensive buddy.
“We help you Mandy. You probably did completely nothing mistaken,” he mentioned.
Days-Chapman has served as chair of Atlantic Metropolis’s Democratic Committee and ran Mayor Small’s reelection marketing campaign in 2021.
Days-Chapman has not commented on the costs towards her.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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