American Indian activist Russell Means arrested on domestic violence charge

<br>LAS VEGAS, N.M. (AP) _ American Indian activist Russell Means, who is running for governor, has been accused of abusing his wife during an argument at their home. <br><br>Means, 62, was arrested Wednesday

Saturday, November 17th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LAS VEGAS, N.M. (AP) _ American Indian activist Russell Means, who is running for governor, has been accused of abusing his wife during an argument at their home.

Means, 62, was arrested Wednesday night and charged with domestic violence. He was released the same night after posting $500 bond, according to jail records.

Means, who this year was nominated as a Libertarian candidate for governor, denied the allegations, according to court records. He did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment.

Police said the couple argued over a woman Means had allegedly telephoned. Pearl Means, 41, told police her husband threw her onto a bed and scraped her face trying to pull a phone away from her.

The wife said Friday she does not intend to press charges, and takes ''50 percent of the responsibility for the disharmony.''

Russell Means was nominated in June as the Libertarian Party's candidate for governor, but he and the party parted ways last month over philosophy. He has been exploring a run as an independent.