Ca Mayor Arrested for Purse Snatching, Wild Ride

By Tanya Roth, Esq. on October 19, 2010 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

In a political atmosphere that is feeding off of mistrust of the federal government, one might think that the public would turn to local government. However, that might not be a solution, as stories of local officials run amok seem to be increasing every day. Of course the bellwether for mayors and city fathers behaving badly is Bell, California with its massive corruption investigation still continuing. Here, however,  is one more mayor many citizens of So. Cal. are pleased is not the head of their town.

According to the Associated Press, Mayor Albert Huang of San Gabriel was arrested for snatching a woman's purse and taking her on Mr. Mayor's wild ride through the town streets on October 15. So much for a law and order administration. Police were called to the scene after a witness reported a squabble between the mayor and a woman, allegedly over money. Reportedly, Huang grabbed the woman's purse containing her car keys and money. Mayor Huang then allegedly hopped into her car and started to speed away with the woman clinging to the vehicle from the running board.

Police say the purse snatching city official careened through a 25 mph speed zone at 45 mph with the woman still clinging to the side of the car. The AP reports that a "security guard" noticed the car with its unusually positioned passenger and somehow halted the escapade. He detained both the Mayor and the woman until police arrived.

The AP reports Mayor Huang has been charged with felony assault, felony robbery and misdemeanor battery, according to police Lt. Ariel Duran. A felony conviction will make it difficult for the Mayor to vote in elections in the future, let alone run in them.

Mayor Huang has tried to explain the purse snatching/wilde riding incident in an email statement. "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."

The woman in question, whose name has been withheld, was not seriously hurt.

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