Bell 8: Rizzo rushed to hospital with chest pains during break in court hearing [Updated]
Former Bell City Administrator Robert Rizzo was rushed to a local hospital Wednesday after experiencing chest pains during a lunch break in the ongoing court hearing that will determine whether he will stand trial for public corruption.
Rizzo's immediate condition was not clear, but his attorney, James Spertus, denied initial reports that the former city leader had collapsed.
The courtroom had cleared for lunch and Rizzo was sitting on a bench in the hallway near a restroom when he began to experience light-headedness and chest pains, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department spokesman Steve Whitmore.
Donna Gannon, a longtime Bell resident who was attending the hearing, said paramedics brought Rizzo out of the courthouse on a gurney with a towel over his face.
Los Angeles city fire officials confirmed they had taken a 50-year-old male from the courthouse to Good Samaritan Hospital but would not confirm it was Rizzo.
Spertus said he expected that the criminal hearing would be adjourned for the day but would not know until court resumes Wednesday afternoon.
Rizzo has been the face of the salary scandal in Bell, which resulted in eight former and current city leaders being charged with misappropriation of public funds.
[Updated 2:05 p.m. Court has been adjourned for the day because of Rizzo's medical emergency.
There was little discussion of the episode after court reconvened following a noon break.
"I understand Mr. Rizzo has become ill," Judge Henry J. Hall said.]
RELATED:
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Bell judge refuses Robert Rizzo’s call to step down
Robert Rizzo wants judge in Bell case to recuse himself
-- Corina Knoll, Jeff Gottlieb, Andrew Blankstein and Ruben Vives
Photo: Robert Rizzo with former assistant Angela Spaccia, also a defendant, at Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday. Credit: Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times
EDITOR'S PICKS:
He is trying to make people to feel sorry for him. Good try, remember people that he said "PIGS GET FAT AND HOGES GET SLAUGHTER... AS LONG AS HE IS NOT A HOG. ALL IS WELL FOR HIM. What f@#*ing mentality this guy has. I think he went to the same school that the guy Madoff went to. They learn togther how robbed people's money without any remorse. People wake up and speak up... Don't let and allow people like Rizzo to ruin our lives. If I were a juge, I would sentence him to eternal life in jail and the lethal shot 100 times.
Posted by: Santiago Rico | February 23, 2011 at 04:08 PM
LOLOL!! WHEN I READ THE HEADLINE, BEFORE I CLICKED OVER HERE...I THOUGHT STOCKARD CHANNING HAD A HEART ATTACK!! roflmao
ugh- now back to this moron. he's a lazy, fat, greedy, thieving, slob. he just wanted to avoid coming back to the court room. what a self indulgent sociopath. you know they were either completely fake pains or were barely noticeable and he saw the opportunity to have some power for a second by shifting the focus or buzz for the rest of the day/night. a true sociopath. he's not interested in making ammends or showing remorse.
Posted by: hahaha | February 23, 2011 at 04:12 PM
Wonder who is paying for this hospital visit?
Posted by: swhitS | February 23, 2011 at 04:13 PM
They should've taken their time in getting him to hospital.
No sense in inconveniencing the city's drivers.
Posted by: A.L. Hern | February 23, 2011 at 04:15 PM
It would be just like a crook to up and die before he gets sent to prison, just like Ken Lay of Enron.
Posted by: Annie Oakley | February 23, 2011 at 04:18 PM
He was probably hungry.
Posted by: Rocco | February 23, 2011 at 04:18 PM
He's not fat he's just hiding allot of stolen money in his pants and coat.
Posted by: Stong Beach | February 23, 2011 at 04:19 PM
It can't be heart pain. Like Cheney he doesn't have a heart.
Posted by: Wolfy | February 23, 2011 at 04:20 PM
lock him up & through the key away!!!!
Posted by: tim | February 23, 2011 at 04:20 PM
He's what 400 lbs and 5'4? In addition to being just fat, which is not a crime, and a crook I have no sympathy if he dies. I hope the money he stole can pay for that wide coffin and doctors bills for his pall bearers carrying that waste of flesh.
I hope humpty dumpty falls of his wall to a great fall.
Posted by: H | February 23, 2011 at 04:21 PM
What a true and utter coward.
Posted by: DG3 | February 23, 2011 at 04:23 PM
How many paramedics did it take to shove him into the ambulance?
Posted by: SRC | February 23, 2011 at 04:28 PM
THIS FAT GREEDY PIG IS "FAKING" ILLNESS TO GET A LIGHTER SENTENCE,AND ANY JUDGE THAT BELIEVES HE IS TRULY ILL HAS TO HAVE BEEN BORN YESTERDAY. THROW THE BOOK AT THE HEARTLESS GREEDY CROOK!!
Posted by: Jose Sanchez | February 23, 2011 at 04:32 PM
Where is the only place you can lose all that weight and Pay no Membership fees ? Prison... All that good food and plenty of water even by his bed side,plenty Spacious room in the yard and with good behavior he be in general population....Maybe he can request a transfer and meet up with Madoff in New York...
Posted by: mrviking | February 23, 2011 at 04:39 PM
Lost in all this Bell talk is the size of Rizzo's neck. What is he storing in there?
Posted by: Guido Merkins | February 24, 2011 at 04:00 PM
karma baby . . . pure and simple. Like OJ . . .
Posted by: Dean McAdams | February 24, 2011 at 04:12 PM
He is still doing what he does best, taking taxpayer's money. A costly preliminary hearing, an ambulance ride to the hospital, and a hospital stay. All at the taxpayer's expense. The guy does not know when to stop! How about this Rizzo, give back the money, donate your real estate and personal property to the city of Bell, and leave California forever, in trade for your freedom. Sounds good to me!
Posted by: LisaChristine | February 26, 2011 at 03:56 PM