- Credibility:
CHICAGO — Ald. Ricardo Muñoz was arrested after his wife said he hit her on New Year’s Eve, police said.
On Monday night, Muñoz, who has led the 22nd Ward for 25 years, and his wife were having an argument when he pushed her and hit her “throughout the body,” police said.
Muñoz, 53, was taken into custody Wednesday at his aldermanic office in the 2500 block of South St. Louis Avenue, police said.
An investigation was ongoing and no further details were immediately available, police said.
Muñoz, who was still in custody Wednesday afternoon, could not immediately be reached for comment. Joanna Klonsky, a spokeswoman for Muñoz, declined to comment on the alderman’s arrest.
The longtime alderman said earlier this year that he would not run for 22nd Ward alderman again, though he hinted at a possible run for mayor in 2023.
Muñoz, who was first appointed to the City Council by Mayor Richard M. Daley in 1993, belongs to the council’s Latino and Progressive caucuses, and has been long a thorn in the side of Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Muñoz has been open about his struggles with alcohol. When he told NBC5’s Carol Marin the news of his retirement, he said he revealed his alcoholism eight years ago in an effort to take “alcoholism and mental health out of the shadow.”
In addition, Muñoz was arrested as a teenager on drug and gun charges, which were later expunged.
Muñoz has endorsed 22nd Ward committeeman Mike Rodriguez, the executive vice president of the Cook County Democratic Party, to replace him as alderman.
“I am deeply troubled by the reports surrounding Ald. Muñoz’s arrest,” Rodriguez said. “Domestic violence is never acceptable in any form, and these allegations should be taken extremely seriously.”
Also running to replace Muñoz are Lisette Lopez, Richard Juarez and Neftalie Gonzalez.
RELATED: Who Will Be The Next Alderman Of The 22nd Ward?
The 22nd Ward includes all or parts of Little Village, Lawndale, Brighton Park, Archer Heights, LeClaire Courts and Sleepy Hollow.
Do stories like this matter to you? Subscribe to Block Club Chicago. Every dime we make funds reporting from Chicago’s neighborhoods.
