David Chang

Philly District Attorney's Girlfriend Accused of Slashing His Tires: Police

The girlfriend of Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams is accused of vandalizing two of his city-owned vehicles last year.

Stacey Cummings, 47, was arrested and charged with criminal mischief and possession of an instrument of crime. Police say Cummings flattened the tires of a 2006 Ford Crown Victoria and a 2010 Ford Escape that were parked at Williams’ home back on November 11, 2015. Police say both vehicles were assigned to the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.

Cummings surrendered to police Sunday, according to officials, and is charged with two misdemeanors.

Williams described Cummings as his girlfriend in his political financial disclosures. A spokesperson for Williams said the case was moved to Delaware County in order to avoid a possible conflict of interest.

David Thornburgh, the President and CEO of the government watchdog group Committee of Seventy, told NBC10 he found it troubling how long it took the case to leave Philly.

"It raises a whole other set of questions to be answered," he said. "It's another seeming example of the mixing between the personal and the professional which I think troubles people at some point."

Williams recently released financial disclosures which revealed more than $160,000 in gifts, including a $45,000 roof for his house. The disclosures also showed Cummings gave him a $6500 rolex watch and $1100 in suits and dress shirts.

"While this is a distraction, it's not my distraction," said Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney. "It's something he's going to have to talk about."

Mayor Kenney said voters will decide what to do about the District Attorney's scandals in May when he runs for re-election. Kenney also said he's unsure if Cummings, who is a city employee, will keep her job.

"She shouldn't have done it," Kenney said. "She apparently admitted doing it and she shouldn't have done it."

It cost the city just under $1,000 to fix the slashed tires. One of those tires also appeared to have been on the District Attorney's security detail.

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