BREA
An owner of a downtown restaurant filed a police report against City Councilman Steven C. Vargas on Wednesday, claiming the councilman made threatening statements to him.
Doug Miller, project manager and part owner of Taps Fish House and Brewery, said Vargas entered the restaurant Tuesday morning and demanded a retraction of disparaging comments made against the city by Taps co-owner Joe Manzella. Miller said Vargas wanted the retraction to come by the end of the day “or else.”
Vargas voted against a Sept. 30 deal passed by the city to help a downtown developer with construction costs and to lease a church parking lot for Taps until a permanent lot was built.
Vargas denies threatening Miller. He said one of the Taps employees let him in to talk to Miller.
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.
