EXCLUSIVE: Commerce City Leaders Trade Punches during Brawl, 1 Council Member Taken to Hospital

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(KNX 1070) - It was a wild alleged fistfight over the weekend at a conference for City of Commerce leaders in Indian Wells. 

One of the city council members landed in the hospital. 

The argument was over whether or not to legalize weed sales in Commerce.   

The alleged fight occurred between City of Commerce council members, the Mayor and the Commerce Mayor Pro Tem Ivan Altmirano on Saturday.

Mayor of @CityOfCommerce, and council members, involved in a fist fight during a government conference this weekend in Indian Wells. One council member tells me things got heated during a discussion about legalized cannabis sales in Commerce. @KNX1070

— Craig Fiegener (@CraigNews3LV) May 20, 2019

Council member Hugo Argumedo tells KNX reporter Craig Fiegener a business conversation got heated:

"Voices were getting loud. The next thing that I heard was a huge thump and that was Councilmember Leonard Mendoza hitting the ground from a punch that was thrown by vice mayor Altamirano," Argumedo said. "He just basically sucker punched him. The vice mayor just sucker punched him. He (Mendoza) was taken into the hospital and I believe he was released the next morning."

He says council member Leonard Mendoza was flat on the floor, not moving, not breathing. The council member, who was knocked on the floor, was hospitalized overnight.

Argumedo said he tried to help and when he jumped in, suddenly he was taking punches from the mayor and vice mayor.

"They punched on me and I responded in self-defense. I inflicted two punches on the vice mayor and the mayor hit me and again I responded in self-defense and inflicted three punches," Argumedo said.

Argumedo said he's filing a police report while the Commerce Mayor says he's also going to the cops.

Official City Statement"The City has been made aware of reports of a confrontation between some City officials that took place outside of the City's jurisdiction. Given that, and the fact that the City is unclear on the specifics, the City has no further comment at this time."

— City of Commerce (@CityOfCommerce) May 19, 2019

The city of Commerce gave a statement Saturday night:

"The City has been made aware of reports of a confrontation between some City officials that took place outside of the City's jurisdiction. Given that, and the fact that the City is unclear on the specifics, the City has no further comment at this time."