Arcuri Faces 3 Charges in Council Commotion

Frank J. Arcuri, who was ejected from a City Council meeting last week, was charged in Alhambra Municipal Court on Thursday with three misdemeanors: disrupting a public meeting, resisting arrest and assault on a police officer.

Arcuri, who is free on $1,000 bail, was ordered to appear in court May 28. Deputy Dist. Atty. Bill Holliman, who filed the complaint, said Arcuri could be sentenced to up to a year in jail if found guilty of the most serious charge--assault on an officer. The other charges are each punishable by up to six months in jail.

The City Council was considering a moratorium on residential and commercial construction Monday night when Arcuri addressed the council and clashed verbally with Mayor G. Monty Manibog.

Arcuri threatened to mount a campaign to recall the mayor, and Manibog ordered him to leave the podium for not sticking to the subject under discussion.

When Arcuri balked at leaving, the mayor ordered Police Capt. Joe Santoro to remove him. Police said Arcuri threw his elbow back, and Santoro was hit on the lip.

Police Chief Jon Elder and another officer then joined Santoro in hustling Arcuri out of the council chamber and placing him under arrest.

Arcuri said that his back was pinched by Santoro when the captain moved to escort him away and that he threw his elbow to shake Santoro off.

Since initiating a campaign last summer to declare English the city’s official language, Arcuri has become a controversial figure in city politics. He got nearly 2,000 votes in the City Council election in April, but he finished last among seven candidates.