Officers from the LAPD met mayoral candidate David "Zuma Dogg" Saltsburg at tonight's campaign forum, took him to the Wilshire station and questioned him about an accusation that he directed a phone threat at fellow candidate Craig X Rubin. Saltsburg denied the allegation to the Times. Rubin, a pastor at the Family Church in Pasadena, said Saltsburg left a message on his home phone this morning threatening to kill Rubin if he showed up at tonight's forum. From the LAT story:

Rubin said he believes it all began during a forum at UCLA on Wednesday when Saltsburg stormed out. Saltsburg apparently thought that Rubin and another candidate were mocking his comments embracing W. Edwards Deming's 14-point management philosophy.

"I don't know where the anger came from," Rubin said.

Rubin called police and officers came to his home in the San Fernando Valley, where he filed a formal complaint.

"As a pastor, I felt kind of conflicted about it," Rubin said. "You know, turn the other check [ sic]. But I really did feel threatened."

What? Somebody mocked Zuma Dogg?? I find that hard to believe. Anyway, both fringe candidates got their names in the news tonight. Mission accomplished?

Speaking of Zuma Dogg: Jill Stewart, the LA Weekly editor who commissioned the Dogg to do a serious story a couple of years ago, quotes him as a credible source on LAPD stats and Chief Bratton in a politics story this week.