Ontario airport police officer denies spousal abuse charge

Prosecutors have filed a misdemeanor spousal abuse charge against an LA/Ontario International Airport police officer accused of punching his wife in the face.

Francisco Santiago, 46, pleaded not guilty to the charge Friday in West Valley Superior Court. He is next due in court April 8 for a pre-trial hearing.

Santiago's wife called the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department at about 5 p.m. on March 17.

She told deputies that her husband punched her in the face in the couple's home in the 7100 block of Westhaven Place in Rancho Cucamonga, a sheriff's spokeswoman said last week.

Santiago posted $10,000 bail Friday after his arraignment hearing, and was released from custody.

A spokesman from the the Los Angeles Airport Police Department, which patrols LA/Ontario and other airports owned Los Angeles World Airports, declined to comment Tuesday on Santiago's employment status.

The spokesman, Sgt. Jim Holcomb, said the department would not comment until after Santiago's criminal case is resolved.

Click here for the initial story on Santiago's arrest.