Ritegia Arrested; Assaults Bouncer At Night Club

KOKOMOKALO, DMG--Actress and model Maria Ritegia was reportedly arrested Monday night outside a prominent Kokomokalo night club, where she had participated in a fashion show earlier in the evening.

According to police reports, several guests at the club had complained to club security about Ritegia's behavior. She appeared to be drunk and was behaving belligerently and becoming violent with fellow guests. After receiving complaints, club bouncers confronted the model; asking her to leave. She refused, and then reportedly assaulted one of the security bouncers; hitting the man on the head with her purse.

Police were then called to the scene and, after administering a breathalizer test, arrested her for public intoxication and assault. Court records show Ritegia had a blood alcohol level of .12, fourt tenths over the legal limit. She was then taken to a sub station on the city's north west side, where she spoke with her lawyer, and was released at about 11:00 PM.

Ritegia did not linger in Grassadella City following her arrest and subsequent booking at the local jail. After being released, she got on a Treeton-bound flight that left King Andrew Int'l Airport at 6:00 AM, arriving in Treeton at 10:00 AM.

Upon hearing of her arrest, local and national media congregated at the Ritegia residence in the Treeton suburb of Northcrest. There were so many media outside Ritegia's home, police came and asked them to move their vehicles because satellite trucks were blocking parts of the street Ms. Ritegia and her husband, Andrew, live on.

The Grassadellan Association of Contracted Models (GACM) said in a statement that it "does not condone Ms. Ritegia's actions and is seeking justice in the case." GACM Vice President Victoria Mitchell told GNN NEWS via telephone Tuesday that the Association, which co-sponsored the Kokomokalo fashion show Ritegia had appeared in directly before the assault incident, knew nothing of Ritegia's behavior or apparent intoxication.

"She appeared at and participated in our fashion show at 6:00 PM that evening, and after that, we didn't see her or stay in contact with her. We had no idea she was drunk or involved in a dispute with club patrons, and we take no responsibility for her actions," Mitchell said.

Mitchell added that she is "disappointed if the allegations against her [Ritegia] are true."

"We certainly believe that models, just like every other celebrity, should hold the highest moral and ethical standards," Mitchell said.

Outside Ritegia's home, among the mass media presence, were ten protestors, holding signs that read "Models Are Supposed To Be ROLE-Models" and "Assault Is Never An Option."

Ritegia refused to speak with members of the media. Her publicist, Ann Conway, also declined to comment on the case.

GNN NEWS has confirmed, however, that Ritegia has officially been charged by a prosecuting attorney in Damoign. She is facing one count of public intoxication (2nd degree) and one count of assault (3rd degree). Her first court appearance is scheduled for next Tuesday, September 4th at 9:00 AM in Kokomokalo.