BEVERLY HILLS (CNS) - The president of the Beverly Hills Unified School District board today “stepped down temporarily” following his arrest for allegedly pushing a female neighbor to the ground.

Brian Goldberg, 42, told City News Service he “stepped down temporarily to avoid being any more of an distraction than this situation already has become.”

“I hope once I am cleared of any charges that my colleagues will reinstate me as board president so I can complete my term,” which ends in early December, Goldberg said.

Goldberg spent the night in custody for allegedly pushing an 18-year-old female neighbor to the ground after she accused him of “unsafe driving” in the garage of their condominium building, police reported.

Goldberg was arrested after officers went to the condominium building in the 200 block of Tower Drive in southeast Beverly Hills about 7:45 p.m. Monday, said Beverly Hills police Lt. Lincoln Hoshino.

Goldberg, who was booked on suspicion of misdemeanor battery, was issued a citation and released about 8 this morning, pending a May 4 appearance at the Los Angeles Airport Courthouse, police said.

An 18-year-old woman living in the building told police that an argument about Goldberg’s alleged “unsafe driving” in the garage continued into an elevator.

“The victim alleged that Goldberg shoved her while in the elevator, causing her head to strike the interior of the elevator,” Hoshino said.

“After the elevator door had opened, Goldberg again (allegedly) shoved her, knocking her to the ground.”

The woman, whose name was not released, called police, he said.

Hoshino said “officers observed visible injuries to the victim,” who was treated by paramedics for complaints of head and shoulder pain.

Goldberg told the Los Angeles Times that the confrontation was part of a long-standing dispute with his neighbors.

“We have had bad blood with these neighbors for some time,” Goldberg said.

Goldberg said that on Monday night, he was driving “a little too fast” in the parking garage when the woman confronted him over his driving.

Trying to avoid speaking to her, Goldberg said he “disengaged” and slipped into an elevator. He claimed the woman stopped the elevator from moving, and refused to allow him to leave, so he bumped into her as he exited.

“I felt that she was keeping me hostage in the elevator,” he told The Times, adding that he hoped surveillance footage from cameras throughout the building will corroborate his story.

“I just hope people will wait until all the facts come out,” he said.