Neighbor Says Mayor’s Wife Lied to Police

The defense will resume their case Wednesday to discredit allegations that Mayor Adam Bradley abused his wife, Fumiko Bradley.

Amy Tiihonen—a neighbor of the Bradleys—testified Tuesday for the defense that Fumiko Bradley said she lied to police about the mayor abusing her.

"She told us she lied to police," Tiihonen said of a conversation she and Bonnie Hagen had with Fumiko Bradley on Sept. 29.

Tiihonen said in court that Fumiko Bradley, a native of Japan, said she pretended to not understand English well when speaking to police and laughed about it.

Tiihonen said she did not contact police, prosecutors or the District Attorney's Office after Fumiko Bradley confided in her. Tiihonen also said that Fumiko Bradley has a reputation in the community for making up stories.

Michael Passarella—who worked for the City for 31 years until 2006—and Marc Strongwater, who are both friends of Bradley's, both contradicted an earlier testimony given by Fumiko Bradley. She said her husband called her crazy in front, her children, Passarella and Strongwater.

Both men said that the mayor never uttered a word to Fumiko Bradley, and that she was the one who started "shrieking," about how the mayor never does anything right and how she hates him. 

"She started screaming hysterically," Passarella said.

Strongwater, a contractor from Connecticut, said that Bradley eventually left with his two daughters. Strongwater said he then unsuccessfully tried to calm Fumiko Bradley for about 25 minutes.

Defense attorney Luis Andrew Penichet asked Westchester County Judge Susan Capeci, who is also presiding over the Bradleys' divorce case, to dismiss assault charges stemming from a Jan. 11 incident. Fumiko Bradley said her husband threw tea on her that day.

Penichet argued assault never took place since there was no intent or criminal negligence involved and she only complained of being left with red skin.

Assistant District Attorney Audrey Stone said the charges included attempted assault, and that attempted assault did take place. Capeci has reserved her judgment on this matter, as well as whether to allow Penichet to a call a witness who would testify that she saw Fumiko Bradley parading her daughter and her daughter's cockroach around the neighborhood.

Fumiko Bradley previously testified that the mayor held a caged cockroach up to her face after an argument. The defense will continue making their case Wednesday at 9:30 a.m.

Bradley, 49, and Fumiko Bradley, 38, have been married for seven years and both filed for divorce in September. Bradley has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges and violations for assault, harassment and witness tampering.