Ald. Ricardo Munoz was arrested by Chicago police Wednesday in connection with a domestic violence incident that took place on New Year's Eve, according to police.
The long-serving member of the Chicago City Council was placed into police custody after a "victim states that a verbal argument took place between him and his wife," authorities said.
In that alleged argument, police said it was reported Munoz "pushed and struck [his wife] throughout the body."
The Cook County State's Attorney's Office said Munoz was charged with misdemeanor domestic battery and will appear in court Thursday. Police said he will spend the night in jail.
He was taken into custody without incident at his aldermanic office in the 2500 block of South St. Louis, police said.
No further information was provided and an investigation remained ongoing, police said.
This is not Munoz's first brush with the law. He has publicly spoken about his arrest as a teenager on drug and gun charges, which were later expunged. Now sober, Munoz has also opened up about his addiction to alcohol.
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Munoz announced this summer he would not run for re-election and opened the door on a possible run for mayor in the future.
“I’m only 53, I can run for mayor in 2023 if I want to,” he said during an exclusive interview at his Little Village office.
Sworn into office in 1993, Munoz was appointed alderman by then mayor Richard Daley to replace Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, who moved on to the Illinois State Senate.
He represents the 22nd Ward on Chicago's Southwest Side, with four candidates on the ballot to replace him in the February elections.
