San Gabriel's Mayor Arrested After Wild-Ride Purse Snatch

SAN GABRIEL (AP) — San Gabriel's mayor has been arrested after a purse-snatching and a wild ride through streets with a woman clinging to his sport utility vehicle, police said Friday.

San Gabriel Mayor Albert Y.M. Huang was booked early Friday for investigation of felony assault, felony robbery and misdemeanor battery, police Lt. Ariel Duran said.

Huang, who was released on $100,000 bail late Friday morning, said the incident was the result of a misunderstanding.

"As a public official and a former Boy Scout, I hold myself to the highest standard of conduct. On last night's incident, it was a great misunderstanding between friends. As a result I am confident I will restore my reputation and prove my innocence in court," he told The Associated Press in the second of two e-mails sent to the news service.

He also thanked his family and friends for their support.

Police were called to a restaurant at about 1:30 a.m. after reports of a couple embroiled in a heated argument. Duran said the 35-year-old mayor and the woman were squabbling over money in the restaurant parking lot.

Huang took the woman's purse containing her car keys, cash and personal belongings and got into her car, police said. When the woman tried to prevent him from leaving, Huang pushed her away and got into his own car, a Nissan SUV, Duran said.

The woman then reached through the passenger window while standing on the SUV's running board as Huang sped away, investigators said.

"It's a 25 mph speed limit zone and he's doing 45 with the female hanging on the car," Duran said, adding that Huang drove more than a quarter mile with the woman clinging to the side of the SUV.

A security guard noticed the SUV and detained Huang and the woman until officers arrived. Duran didn't know any details about the security guard's involvement in halting the incident.

There was no indication Huang was intoxicated, Duran said.

The 33-year-old woman, whose name and relationship to Huang is being withheld, wasn't seriously hurt.

A city spokeswoman, Melanie Benson, referred calls to the police department and said there was no other comment.

Huang is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 19.

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