Bell officials arrested, prosecutors set to file criminal charges (including Rizzo)
KFI just now reporting arrestees will appear tomorrow in Criminal Court.
Numbers...5.5 million dollars....
Bell officials arrested as prosecutors are set to file criminal charges
KFI just reporting a battering ram was used at the Rizzo home.*****************************EXCERPT*******************************
Story posted 2010.09.21 at 09:31 AM PDT
At least eight city of Bell officials were arrested Tuesday morning, a source said, as L.A. County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley prepared to announce criminal charges in the municipal salary scandal.
The charges are expected to be detailed at a morning press conference, according to a source with knowledge of the case who was not authorized to comment publicly. Authorities were in Bell Tuesday morning making arrests, but the identities of all those taken into custody were not immediately available. A source said four council members were taken into custody. A witness told The Times he saw Councilman Luis Artiga taken away in handcuffs Tuesday morning.
For two months, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office and state and federal authorities have investigated Bell, where high salaries earned by former City Manager Robert Rizzo and other top officials have sparked widespread outrage. The Times reported last month that Rizzo was set to earn more than $1.5 million in 2010. Additionally, he gave loans totaling $1.6 million to more than 50 city officials, including himself.