Arcuri Guilty in Charges From Council Fracas

Former City Council candidate Frank J. Arcuri was found guilty Tuesday of seven misdemeanor counts, three of which stemmed from an April 28 council meeting in which he struck a Monterey Park police officer in the face with his elbow.

After deliberating 2 1/2 days, an Alhambra Municipal Court jury found the 46-year-old Arcuri guilty of disturbing a public meeting, battery of a police officer and resisting or delaying an officer in the performance of his duties, Deputy Dist. Atty. Bill Holliman said.

The incident occurred when Arcuri, a self-employed photographer and English-language activist, was ruled out of order at the April council meeting by Mayor G. Monty Manibog.

Arcuri was arrested after elbowing Police Capt. Joe Santoro, who had been directed by the mayor to escort Arcuri out of council chambers.

Arcuri was also convicted of four counts of filing false police reports, in which he accused Manibog of battery, Santoro of assault and two Monterey Park residents, Betty Couch and Frank Cuda, of making obscene phone calls, Holliman said.