Local News in Brief : Council Hopeful Arrested

A candidate for the Palmdale City Council was arrested Thursday on suspicion of sexually abusing two sisters, 5 and 6 years old, while pretending to play games with them, officials said.

Richard Burriss, 40, surrendered to deputies at the Antelope Valley Station at 10 a.m., Deputy Dan Cox said. He was arrested and held on $7,500 bail, Cox said.

Burriss turned himself in after the two girls were interviewed and after evidence was found in a search of his home, said investigating Deputy Barbara Fryer.

Burriss is alleged to have sexually abused the girls when they were visiting his daughter last Saturday, Fryer said.

Police and the county Department of Child Services were alerted to the incident by the girls’ mother, who said that Burriss kept calling and wanting the girls to come to his house again, Fryer said.