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John Hartley, the City Council candidate arrested yesterday on suspicion of indecent exposure, wants to cooperate with the authorities and believes there’s been a misunderstanding, his political consultant told me this afternoon.
Consultant Larry Remer said he didn’t have very much new information, only that the incident — in which witnesses claim to have seen Hartley urinating in a cup and masturbating — took place while Hartley was in his truck.
Remer said Hartley had been out walking districts and was arrested on Vista Street in Kensington. The candidate, who served on the City Council from 1989 until 1993, had earned a reputation as a dedicated and diligent district walker.
Remer said he couldn’t get into any more details regarding what misunderstanding had occurred. He said he didn’t know what the misunderstanding was, but that even if he did he wouldn’t be in the position to share that information.
Hartley has no plans at the moment to cease his campaign and isn’t speaking publicly about the issue.
The candidate was released by police this morning after spending the night in jail.
“I would describe him as somber,” said Remer, who met and spoke periodically with Hartley today.
The decision on whether to charge Hartley will be made by the City Attorney’s Office. City Attorney Mike Aguirre told my colleague Will Carless that police haven’t presented the case to his office yet.
Here’s an incident report from the day and the arrest report.