Pasadena Carjacking Suspect Charged in Alleged Crime Spree, Pleads Not Guilty

An Arizona man potentially faces nine years in a California prison after prosecutors filed a slew of felony charges against him Monday — including a carjacking in Pasadena and assaulting police — in connection with an alleged two-county, one-man crime spree and pursuit last week.

Johnny Paul Siganoff, also known as Frank Siganoff and John Szabo, 32, of Phoenix, pleaded not guilty to auto theft, carjacking, assault on a peace officer, two counts of attempted carjacking and three felony counts of resisting arrest during his appearance in the Pasadena branch of Los Angeles County Superior Court, authorities said.

Police and prosecutors say he stole an SUV belonging to a gas station clerk in Mission Viejo Wednesday morning.

He soon crashed it into another SUV on the 210 Freeway near Hill Avenue in Pasadena, “and allegedly carjacked the vehicle that was involved in the collision,” Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spokesman Ricardo Santiago said in a prepared statement.

Siganoff drove the carjacked SUV into Glendale, where he became involved in another smash-up at the 134 Freeway at Harvey Drove, according to Santiago.

“Siganoff crashed into two vehicles and reportedly tried to carjack those two vehicles before returning to the car he had previously carjacked and fleeing,” he said.

The CHP then caught up with the carjacked SUV and began a chase. He again crashed into another car, tried unsuccessfully to carjack the driver, returned to the SUV and resumed fleeing.

Officials said a CHP officer ultimately rammed and disabled the suspect’s SUV along Riverside Drive, near the 134 Freeway, in Burbank.

Siganoff struggled with officers as they wrestled him into custody, Santiago said.

Siganoff is due back in court for a hearing on June 25. Until then, bail has been set at $300,000.