Zuma Dogg accused of making threat

Officers from the LAPD met mayoral candidate David "Zuma Dogg" Saltsburg at tonight's campaign forum, took him to the Wilshire station and questioned him about an accusation that he directed a phone threat at fellow candidate Craig X Rubin. Saltsburg denied the allegation to the Times. Rubin, a pastor at the Family Church in Pasadena, said Saltsburg left a message on his home phone this morning threatening to kill Rubin if he showed up at tonight's forum. From the LAT story:

Rubin said he believes it all began during a forum at UCLA on Wednesday when Saltsburg stormed out. Saltsburg apparently thought that Rubin and another candidate were mocking his comments embracing W. Edwards Deming's 14-point management philosophy.

"I don't know where the anger came from," Rubin said.

Rubin called police and officers came to his home in the San Fernando Valley, where he filed a formal complaint.

"As a pastor, I felt kind of conflicted about it," Rubin said. "You know, turn the other check [ sic]. But I really did feel threatened."

What? Somebody mocked Zuma Dogg?? I find that hard to believe. Anyway, both fringe candidates got their names in the news tonight. Mission accomplished?

Speaking of Zuma Dogg: Jill Stewart, the LA Weekly editor who commissioned the Dogg to do a serious story a couple of years ago, quotes him as a credible source on LAPD stats and Chief Bratton in a politics story this week.