VENTURA : D.A. Clears Mayor in Council Incident

The Ventura County district attorney’s office has cleared Ventura Mayor Richard L. Francis of any wrongdoing in an incident that led to the mayor’s arrest after a heated exchange with a City Council gadfly last month.

Ventura City Atty. Peter Bulens said Tuesday that District Atty. Michael D. Bradbury declined to press charges against the mayor after an investigation showed that Francis “had not violated the City Charter, city rules or state law.” Bradbury declined to comment, referring all questions to Bulens.

Francis, also an attorney, said he was not surprised by the district attorney’s decision.

“I have a pretty good idea of what a legitimate complaint is,” Francis said, “and this one was not only ill-conceived, it was absurd.”

Francis was arrested June 11 after a heated exchange with Carrol Dean Williams.

Williams had demanded that Police Chief Richard Thomas--who was present for budget deliberations--arrest Francis for denying Williams the right to address the council.

After the meeting, Francis was invited into the council’s chambers and arrested there by Cpl. David Williams, who had been called in by Thomas.

Williams has placed at least three public officials under citizen’s arrest but in each case the district attorney’s office declined to prosecute after completing its investigation.

Williams was out of town Tuesday and could not be reached for comment.