Marion Barry says his arrest ‘caused great pain’

Stalking charges dropped against ex-D.C. mayor

Stephen J Boitano / AP	Councilman Marion Barry talks at a Thursday news conference.

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updated 6:06 p.m. ET July 9, 2009

WASHINGTON - Former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry says U.S. Park Police should not have arrested him on charges he was stalking his ex-girlfriend.

Barry said Thursday that he did nothing to deserve Saturday's arrest, and it "caused great pain" to his family and the community.

The 73-year-old D.C. Council member says he was taken to a police station in handcuffs, where he waited four hours before being read his rights. His former girlfriend, Donna Watts-Brighthaupt, has denied accusing him of stalking.

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Federal prosecutors on Wednesday dropped charges against Barry. Meanwhile, Watts-Brighthaupt has denied reports that Barry gave her a $60,000 city contract because she was struggling financially. She says she received $15,000 for writing a proposal for an education program.