Cops: “Papa Smurf” from Camden Held on Witness Tampering, Gun Charges
Two Camden County residents -- one known as "Papa Smurf" -- have been arrested following their indictment by a federal grand jury for their alleged roles in attempting to bribe a witness to steal a gun from a car that was in the custody of the Camden County Police Department.
Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael Honig says 37-year-old Anthony D. Parker (a.k.a. "Papa Smurf") from Camden and 41-year-old Saidah A. Davis (a.k.a. "Sacha") of Woodlynne both face a witness tampering charge. "Smurf" was additionally charged with possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.
According to the indictment,
On April 14, 2021, a law enforcement officer saw Parker enter a gray Chrysler while holding a black firearm in his hand. Later that night, police conducted a motor vehicle stop of the Chrysler, and ordered Parker, the sole occupant, out of the car. A drug-detecting K-9 alerted for the presence of narcotics in Parker’s car, which was then seized and impounded in a Camden tow lot pending an application for a search warrant. Parker was released from the scene.
During the morning of April 16th, officers went to the tow lot and executed a search warrant on the Chrysler and they found a loaded gun in a compartment behind the dashboard and $8,000 cash.
Authorities say that afternoon, not knowing that a search warrant had been executed and that police had already seized items from the car, Parker and Davis went to the home of a person who worked at the Camden tow lot. Parker offered that employee $2,000 to break into his car and remove the gun and cash, according to Honig. The tow lot employee refused.
Later that evening, Honig's office says, "an unidentified male broke into the tow lot and walked directly to Parker’s Chrysler. The male attempted to open the driver’s side door, which was locked, and then broke into the Chrysler by smashing the driver’s side window. The male entered the Chrysler and removed a panel that concealed a hidden compartment behind the dashboard. Finding the compartment empty, the male exited the Chrysler and fled the tow lot."
Police say when the gun was found in the car, Parker had at least one prior felony conviction in federal court.
The witness tampering charge carries up to 20 years in prison. The felon in possession of a firearm charge could land someone behind bars for up to a decade in jail. Each count also carries a potential $250,000 fine.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.