BELL (AP) — A Bell City Council meeting ended abruptly Monday after city leaders were called “shameless thugs” by a spectator.

Mayor Oscar Hernandez and Councilwoman Teresa Jacobo stood up and marched out Monday evening after officers refused to eject 36-year-old Jesus Casas, whose outburst in Spanish apparently offended the leaders of the scandal-ridden city.

Most Bell officials are facing a recall election next year.

The Los Angeles Times says the meeting lasted less than an hour because there was a lack of a quorum.

Earlier, a Los Angeles judge refused to put on hold a lawsuit targeting current and former Bell officials until criminal charges against them are resolved.

City News Service says the California attorney general’s office asked the judge to stay its lawsuit until city officials are
prosecuted.

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