Disrupter of O.J. Trial Arrested at Costa Mesa Council Meeting
A man who attracted nationwide attention when he was ejected from the O.J. Simpson murder trial in drag was arrested Monday night on suspicion of disturbing a Costa Mesa City Council meeting.
The Orange County gadfly who calls himself Will B. King was arrested by the council’s uniformed sergeant at arms when he refused to be quiet, according to Costa Mesa Police Lt. Gary Webster.
“He had been warned a number of times,” Webster said. “He has been going to the council meetings in particular and sometimes to the Planning Commission. He has been warned that if he continued with whatever he was doing he would be arrested. Up to [Monday night] that was sufficient.”
King, who frequently appears at government meetings wearing dresses, pumps and fishnet stockings, was arrested on suspicion of disturbing a public assembly and taken to the Costa Mesa City Jail. The misdemeanor carries a bond of $500.
He was in male attire Monday night, police said.
In recent years, King been convicted of nearly a dozen misdemeanors in Orange County, ranging from driving offenses to violating court orders, according to court records. He has been jailed five times.
He insists that Will B. King is his real name, but he also has used the name William Beckingham, police said.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
