Ontario airport police officer pleads no contest to disturbing the peace

RANCHO CUCAMONGA -- An LA/Ontario International Airport police officer accused in March of punching his wife in the face pleaded no contest Friday to a misdemeanor charge of disturbing the peace.

Francisco Santiago, 45, will not have to serve additional jail time as part of the plea bargain reached in West Valley Superior Court.

The Rancho Cucamonga resident also retained his job with Los Angeles Airport Police Department following his March 17 arrest on spousal abuse charges, said Sgt. Jim Holcomb, public information officer for the department.

The department's officers are responsible for both police and firefighting duties. After his arrest, Santiago was assigned to firefighting duties only, Holcomb said.

Holcomb said it's "in the mix and hasn't been decided yet" whether Santiago will return to police work.

As part of the plea bargain reached Friday, Santiago was placed on three years' probation, fined $620, ordered to attend and complete a 12-week anger management program, and ordered to donate $500 to House of Ruth, a Claremont-based organization that assists women and children victimized by domestic violence.

Santiago's attorney, Mark A. Johnson, said that Santiago will be allowed to withdraw his no-contest plea after a year if he follows the terms of his probation, and his case will be dismissed.

Santiago and his wife have reconciled "and are actually doing better than ever," Johnson said.

The couple have even been attending Santiago's court appearances together, Johnson said.