San Gabriel's mayor was arrested Friday on suspicion of felony robbery and assault for allegedly taking a woman's purse during an argument, and then driving away in his SUV with her hanging on to the side of his vehicle, police said.
Mayor Albert Y.M. Huang, 35, was booked on suspicion of felony robbery, felony assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury, and misdemeanor battery, said San Gabriel police Lt. Ariel Duran. He was held at the police station on $100,000 bail.
The 33-year-old woman, whose name was withheld, was not seriously injured, Duran said. Her property was recovered.
About 1:15 a.m., police dispatchers received a call from a person reporting "that a man and a woman were fighting by a white vehicle at 301 W. Valley Blvd.," Duran said in a statement.
Officers found Huang and the woman at Prospect and Newby avenues, Duran said.
"Officers ... determined that the male and female subject had an argument over money at a local restaurant," Duran said. "The argument escalated, and the male took the female's purse, which contained her car keys, cash and personal effects."
Huang allegedly got into the woman's car and tried to drive off, but she reached in through the window, Duran said. He then allegedly pushed the woman, got out of her car, got into his SUV and started to drive away, Duran said.
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But the woman stood on the SUV's running board, reached in through the open passenger window and tried to prevent him from driving away, Duran said.
"The male knew the female was on the (vehicle) but nevertheless proceeded to drive down Prospect Avenue at approximately 45 mph," Duran said.
A security guard from a business "intervened and detained the parties until the San Gabriel Police Department officers arrived," Duran said. Officers then arrested Huang.
