Former city council candidate Gabriel Orozco arrested twice Sunday

DOWNEY -- Gabriel Orozco, a candidate for Downey City Council two years ago despite nearly a half dozen DUI arrests, was arrested twice Sunday after an alleged altercation with his mother. L.A. County jail records show Orozco, 42, was first arrested at 12:24 p.m. and released about a half hour later after posting $20,000 bail.

Downey police officers arrested Orozco a second time at 4:44 p.m. Again he posted bail and was released at 6:26 p.m., records show.

Orozco did not respond to a message seeking comment.

Sources said officers responded to the 7800 block of Brookpark Avenue on Sunday afternoon regarding a domestic assault. The victim, a 63-year-old woman, reportedly told officers that her son – Orozco – had physically assaulted her by pushing her to the ground inside the home.

Police officers arrested Orozco after his mother “placed him under private persons arrest,” sources said.

After he was released about four hours later, Orozco allegedly returned and forced his way into the home. His mother locked herself in a bathroom and called 911, sources said.

Officers placed Orozco under arrest for trespassing.

Orozco made headlines in 2012 after announcing he would run for City Council. His campaign got off to a famously rocky start, after incorrectly claiming that 1 in 3 Warren High School freshmen fail to graduate. He also promised to raise $50 million if elected.

This newspaper reported he had been arrested five times for driving under the influence, most recently in 2010. Orozco attributed the arrests to his days as a professional baseball player.

Despite the controversies, Orozco collected 3,635 votes in the November 2012 election, finishing behind Salvador Franco and winner Alex Saab.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Orozco currently works for Los Angeles Wave newspapers.

"I’ve stopped drinking and reevaluated my life and my priorities. That’s why I want to run for office," Orozco told the Patriot in 2012. "If I can make positive changes in my life, I can do it for my community.The future is more important than the past.”