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San Gabriel Mayor Calls Purse-Stealing Incident 'misunderstanding'
San Gabriel's mayor, Albert Y.M. Huang, is speaking out about his arrest on Friday following an incident during which he allegedly took a woman's purse, according to LA Now.
Huang, 35, is calling the episode, which ended with the woman "clinging to the side of his sport-utility vehicle" as he drove from the scene, a "great misunderstanding between friends."
The nature of Huang's relationship to the alleged victim remains unclear, and the Mayor has not provided any more details about the confrontation, which was reportedly about money. The argument took place outside of a restaurant on W. Valley Boulevard; after Huang took the woman's purse he got in his car, and she held on as he drove at about 45 mph for over a quarter mile. The woman, 33, was not injured. Huang was arrested and subsequently released on bail. He has said he is confident his innocence will be upheld in court.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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