PASADENA : Councilman Richard Breaks Man’s Nose in Altercation

City Councilman Isaac Richard fought with the brother of a City Council candidate and broke his nose during an altercation outside the councilman’s home Sunday, a Pasadena police spokesman said.

Andrew L. Ewing, 54, brother of council candidate Joyce A. Streator, told police that Richard had slammed his forehead into Ewing’s face and then punched Ewing on the jaw, according to Pasadena Police Lt. Thomas Oldfield.

Ewing, who was placing campaign signs for his sister on the front lawn of one of Richard’s neighbors on Forest Avenue at about 12:45 p.m., complained to police and was treated for his injury at Huntington Memorial Hospital.

Richard said Ewing started the fight by putting his nose in Richard’s face and throwing the first punch.

“I have broken no laws. The guy came to my house and attacked me. . . . The guy hit me and I fought back,” Richard said.

Richard supports Streator’s opponent, Saundra L. Knox, in next week’s District 1 City Council election. Richard, who currently holds the District 1 seat, decided not to seek reelection.

No arrests were made. No witnesses could confirm either Ewing’s or Richard’s allegations. An incident report was filed with the city prosecutor. City officials said they would forward it to the county district attorney to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.

Richard is on probation after pleading no contest early this year to two misdemeanors stemming from a minor traffic accident and a confrontation that followed. He was arrested for threatening a group of youths with a handgun in July, 1992, and again for disrupting a Council meeting last November. He was not charged in either case.

He also has been censured by the council three times during his four-year tenure for cursing and threatening council members and other city officials.