COSTA MESA : Gadfly Released; No Charges Filed

The Orange County gadfly known as Will B. King was released from jail Tuesday, and no charges were filed against him following his arrest Monday night at a City Council meeting.

King was arrested by the council’s uniformed sergeant at arms after he refused to be quiet, police said.

The Orange County district attorney’s office said investigators will continue reviewing tapes of the meeting.

King, who gained national attention when he was ejected from the O.J. Simpson murder trial in drag, was removed from council chambers early in Monday’s meeting after arguing with Mayor Joe Erickson.

King accused the council of violating the Brown Act by limiting public comments to three minutes on an issue. King demanded that he be given five minutes of discussion on each item.

Erickson then said that King was intentionally delaying the meeting and throwing in irrelevant comments. He asked King to limit his comments to the issue under discussion or face arrest.

Minutes later, King was escorted out by two uniformed officers.

King, who frequently appears at government meetings wearing dresses, pumps and fishnet stockings, insists that Will B. King is his real name, but he also has used the name William Beckingham, police said.