Tacoma Parks employee charged with felony harassment

By Conner Board -- KING 5 Seattle | Follow the link to access the online article

TACOMA, Wash. — A Parks Tacoma maintenance worker has been charged with felony harassment after allegedly making threatening comments toward a family during an encounter at Titlow Park earlier this month, according to court records.

The employee, identified as Anthony Walker, is accused of approaching two young girls near a public restroom and saying, “You smell good. You smell like my wife. It must be your [expletive],” according to a probable cause statement filed in Pierce County Superior Court.

“When he first pulled up, I backed away a little bit, because I didn't even want him to talk to me at all. And when he did, I was like, that's a little close, but whatever. And then when he started talking, that's when I honestly got, like, super uncomfortable,” said one of the young girls he spoke to.

The mother of the young girls was just inside the bathroom, while her daughters were waiting outside.

“I went to the doorway after I was done washing my hands, and my daughters were standing there,” said Stephanie, the mother of the two girls, who are 12 and 14 years old. “They had this scared, sick-to-their-stomach kind of look on their faces.”

When Stephanie went back to the rest of her family and shared what her daughters said had happened, other family members approached Walker, upset with the comment and asking why he said it.

According to their account in court documents, the worker became defensive. He then went to his work truck and grabbed something.

“It looked like a work bag that was gray or blue, and he started to pull something out that looked like the handle of a gun,” said Stephanie. “I don’t know if it was for sure, but that is what it looked like to us. And he said, ‘Next time I see you guys, I'm going to smoke you.’”

Tacoma police arrested Walker later that day and noted that he smelled of intoxicants. The family also claimed that he smelled of alcohol earlier in the day. Neither a gun nor a bag was found in his work vehicle at the time of his arrest.

“When he was, like, threatening people, that's when I think I started getting scared,” said one of the young girls.

Walker was charged with felony harassment for making threats to kill. He posted $10,000 bail and is no longer in custody.

Court documents reveal that Walker’s most recent felony conviction appears to be from 2010, and it is the same charge he is facing currently—felony harassment.

“I just am disappointed with the park hiring process, to have somebody like that represent them,” Stephanie said.

A spokesperson for Parks Tacoma said Walker was hired in June of this year and underwent a background check that did not reveal any of his prior criminal history. The agency said their screening process may not search records dating back that far.

As of Tuesday, Walker remained employed by Parks Tacoma while officials determine next steps.

The family and their attorney said they are seeking both accountability for Walker and systemic changes within Parks Tacoma's hiring and screening procedures.

“They’re trying to make sure that not only the individual is accountable, but also Metro Parks is too,” said Loren Cochran, the family’s attorney. “They want to protect other people who come to the park and want to enjoy their day without being harassed or accosted or threatened.”

KING 5 attempted to reach Walker by phone on Tuesday, but could not get in contact with him. In court documents, Walker claimed the situation with the young girls was taken out of context and added that he may have made comments to the family members but could not recall exactly what was said.

“I expect it to be a safe environment,” Stephanie said. “I expect it to be a happy place, to not have anything like that ever happen.”