Albert Y.M. Huang, 35 (San Gabriel Police Dept. / October 15, 2010) |
SAN GABRIEL (KTLA) -- The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office has yet to file charges against former San Gabriel Mayor Albert Y.M. Huang because the alleged victim cannot be found.
Police said Monday they have been unable to find the owner of a massage parlor alleged to have fought with the former mayor in a dumpling house.
Due to the woman's disappearance, police have been unable to complete their investigation into Huang, who is suspected of robbery, and domestic violence.
The woman, identified in the Chinese-language World Journal, as Lu Chen, 33, has not been seen at her massage parlor for "a couple of days," said an employee of the business who refused to give her name Monday.
Police have refused to identify the woman, but said she had a relationship with Huang.
Investigators said Huang and the woman engaged in a heated argument on Oct. 15 inside the New Taste Dumpling House on West Valley Boulevard.
Witnesses said the argument escalated when the woman threw a plate of steamed dumplings at Huang who retaliated by throwing a carafe of vinegar.
The spat moved outside, police said. There, Huang allegedly took the woman's purse and drove off in an SUV with her on the running boards.
Police arrested Huang after he was stopped by a security guard. A security guard from a Valley Boulevard hostess bar made the 9-1-1 call to police.
Huang was booked in lieu of $100,000 bail, but released when bail was posted. Police turned their case over to Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley's office, but prosecutors rejected it seeking further investigation.
Chen's massage parlor has had several hearings before the City Council.
According to documents obtained by the Pasadena Star on Monday, Chen's massage parlor was granted an exemption from a citywide moratorium on massage parlors in May, despite a planning commission recommendation that she be denied.
Huang joined City Councilmen Kevin Sawkins and Mario De La Torre in voting for the exemption, according to city records.
Speaking for Chen during a March planning commission hearing her attorney Scott Campbell said Chen spent $65,000 worth on upgrades to her shop in anticipation of providing full body massages.
The expenditures left Chen so destitute she sent her 7-year-old daughter back to China, Campbell said.
Through an interpreter Chen said she was up to her neck in debt and that there was a fierce competition in the massage parlor industry.
San Gabriel's moratorium on massage parlors was enacted in Oct. 2009 and is expected to last until Oct. 2011, officials said.
Huang released this statement after his arrest:
"As a public official and a former Boy Scout, I hold myself to the highest standard of conduct. On last night's incident, it was a great misunderstanding between friends. As a result I am confident I will restore my innocence in court."
Police said Monday they have been unable to find the owner of a massage parlor alleged to have fought with the former mayor in a dumpling house.
Due to the woman's disappearance, police have been unable to complete their investigation into Huang, who is suspected of robbery, and domestic violence.
The woman, identified in the Chinese-language World Journal, as Lu Chen, 33, has not been seen at her massage parlor for "a couple of days," said an employee of the business who refused to give her name Monday.
Police have refused to identify the woman, but said she had a relationship with Huang.
Investigators said Huang and the woman engaged in a heated argument on Oct. 15 inside the New Taste Dumpling House on West Valley Boulevard.
Witnesses said the argument escalated when the woman threw a plate of steamed dumplings at Huang who retaliated by throwing a carafe of vinegar.
The spat moved outside, police said. There, Huang allegedly took the woman's purse and drove off in an SUV with her on the running boards.
Police arrested Huang after he was stopped by a security guard. A security guard from a Valley Boulevard hostess bar made the 9-1-1 call to police.
Huang was booked in lieu of $100,000 bail, but released when bail was posted. Police turned their case over to Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley's office, but prosecutors rejected it seeking further investigation.
Chen's massage parlor has had several hearings before the City Council.
According to documents obtained by the Pasadena Star on Monday, Chen's massage parlor was granted an exemption from a citywide moratorium on massage parlors in May, despite a planning commission recommendation that she be denied.
Huang joined City Councilmen Kevin Sawkins and Mario De La Torre in voting for the exemption, according to city records.
Speaking for Chen during a March planning commission hearing her attorney Scott Campbell said Chen spent $65,000 worth on upgrades to her shop in anticipation of providing full body massages.
The expenditures left Chen so destitute she sent her 7-year-old daughter back to China, Campbell said.
Through an interpreter Chen said she was up to her neck in debt and that there was a fierce competition in the massage parlor industry.
San Gabriel's moratorium on massage parlors was enacted in Oct. 2009 and is expected to last until Oct. 2011, officials said.
Huang released this statement after his arrest:
"As a public official and a former Boy Scout, I hold myself to the highest standard of conduct. On last night's incident, it was a great misunderstanding between friends. As a result I am confident I will restore my innocence in court."
