Pasadena’s Richard Told Mayor of Drug Problem, Police Say : Government: During inquiry into alleged sexual assault by the councilman, he is reported to have confessed he ‘uses cocaine to relieve his stress.’ Statements by aide deny it.

Pasadena City Councilman Isaac Richard told the city’s mayor he has had “a cocaine problem” for two years, according to police reports on an alleged sexual assault by Richard.

According to a report written by Pasadena Police Detective George Vidal, the councilman told Mayor Rick Cole in a conversation after the incident last month that he was suffering from a “chemical disorder” and that he “uses cocaine to relieve his stress.”

The report was released Wednesday by the Pasadena city attorney on the request of reporters under the Freedom of Information Act.

Cole would not comment Wednesday on the veracity of the account of the conversation.

“What Isaac told me was in a private conversation,” Cole said.

But the mayor said he had disclosed Richard’s remarks to police on the advice of City Atty. Victor Kaleta.

“The city attorney advised me that I had an obligation to fully disclose any information I had in response to their (police) questions,” he said. “I answered their questions to the best of my ability.”

According to Vidal’s account, Richard told Cole “that he has a chemical dependency, but is not a habitual user.”

Richard, who has been in an undisclosed desert treatment facility for three weeks, could not be reached for comment Wednesday. In statements by his field representative, he has denied that he uses cocaine, claiming that he suffers from depression and a “chemical imbalance.”

According to Vidal’s report, another friend of the councilman, Walt Jackson, told the detective that Richard had told him he was “getting treatment for a drug dependency problem.”

Jackson also could not be reached Wednesday.

The City Council’s highest profile member, Richard has clashed frequently with colleagues in the two years since he was elected, sometimes accusing them of having racist attitudes toward black and Latino residents.

Richard has pressed aggressively for more opportunities for the city’s minority residents, engaging in fiery debates about redistricting, gang sweeps and the use of city resources to support the Anglo-dominated Tournament of Roses organization.

“I am not a politician,” has been his frequent claim. “I’m an activist.”

On March 21, an unidentified woman sought assistance from several people who live near Richard’s residence on Forest Avenue. She told officers that Richard had forcibly kissed her and fondled her breasts after he used a quantity of cocaine. But the woman subsequently told police that she did not want to press charges.

Police turned the matter over to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office. Last week, the office, citing a lack of evidence, announced that it had elected not to prosecute Richard.

According to Vidal’s report, Richard told Cole that the young woman who made the charge was a longtime friend with whom he had once had a romantic relationship. The woman had continued to be a friend of Richard and his wife, Sharon, the report said.

On the night of the alleged attack, both he and the woman were “skied up,” or high on cocaine, Richard reportedly told Cole. Richard’s wife was in Europe and his 3-month-old son was with relatives in Sacramento at the time.

When Richard tried to “move on” the woman, she “threatened to scream,” which she then did, Richard allegedly told Cole. “Richard said at this time he stopped his advances,” the report said.

“Mayor Cole added that Isaac Richard appeared to be truly remorseful about the incident and had not meant to scare (the woman), or force her to have sex with him,” the report said.