‘I’m going to smoke you’: Parks Tacoma employee faces felony harassment for threatening family

A maintenance worker with Parks Tacoma was charged with felony harassment Tuesday for allegedly making threatening comments toward a family at Titlow Park earlier this month.

Anthony Walker was accused of approaching two girls, ages 12 and 14, near a public restroom and telling them, “You smell good. You smell like my wife. It must be your [expletive],” according to a probable cause statement obtained by KING 5.

“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,” one of the young girls said.

Parks Tacoma worker charged with felony harassment

The two girls’ mother, Stephanie, was inside the bathroom nearby while her daughters waited for her outside.

“I went to the doorway after I was done washing my hands, and my daughters were standing there,” Stephanie said, according to KING 5. “They had this scared, sick-to-their-stomach kind of look on their faces.”

Stephanie told the rest of her family about the incident and shared what her daughters said. The family members then approached Walker and asked why he made the comments.

Walker became defensive after he was approached and went to his work truck to grab something, according to court documents.

“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,” Stephanie said. “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.’”

Walker was arrested by Tacoma police later that day, and officers noted he smelled of intoxicants. Similarly, the family that was harassed earlier in the day claimed that Walker smelled of alcohol. At the time of Walker’s arrest, officers did not find a gun or bag inside his work vehicle.

“I just am disappointed with the park hiring process, to have somebody like that represent them,” Stephanie said, according to KING 5.

Walker was charged with felony harassment for his threats and is no longer in custody after he posted $10,000 bail.

Walker’s last felony conviction was also for felony harassment in 2010, according to court documents.

A spokesperson for Parks Tacoma claimed Walker underwent a background check prior to being hired in June, and the check did not reveal any previous criminal history. The agency mentioned that the screening process may have missed Walker’s latest conviction because search records don’t date back that far.

Walker remains employed by Parks Tacoma as the family and their attorneys seek accountability and systemic changes from Parks Tacoma’s hiring and screening processes.

“They’re trying to make sure that not only the individual is accountable, but also Metro Parks is too,” the family’s attorney, Loren Cochran said, according to KING 5. “They want to protect other people who come to the park and want to enjoy their day without being harassed or accosted or threatened.”

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