Officers Engage, Arrest Man With Replica AR-15 Rifle

Monday shortly before noon, Pasadena Police officers responded to the public Archery Range, 400 block south Arroyo Blvd., regarding a citizen’s call of a male armed with a semi-automatic rifle and firing indiscriminately.

Officers arrived quickly, formulated a tactical plan, and gathered information from citizens leaving the area. Officers safely approached the suspect’s location and clearly observed the suspect, Bradley Cutler, Pasadena resident, standing near the bridge and armed with what appeared to be an AR-15 rifle.

Officers ordered suspect Cutler to drop the rifle and he immediately complied.

Fortunately, suspect Cutler was detained without officers needing to use force. Upon further examination officers determined the rifle was an air-off assault rifle replica. (See included photograph of the air-soft rifle replica.)

Suspect Cutler also possessed an illegal dirk/dagger. He was arrested and booked for the weapons violation with a $20,000.00; Suspect Cutler was later transferred to the Los Angeles County Jail due to a pre-existing medical issue.

This incident was the second encounter Pasadena Police Officers had with an armed suspect in 24 hours.

On February 28, at about 11:00 p.m., Special Enforcement Section Officers assigned to the Violence Reduction Task Force were patrolling the area of El Molino and Mountain when they observed a known gang member acting suspiciously. The officers attempted to contact the gang member who immediately ran away attempting to evade them. After a brief foot pursuit, the adult male suspect was taken into custody without incident. Officers retraced the suspect’s path and recovered a loaded handgun.

“In both incidents the involved officers used exceptional tactics and judgment to bring closure without lethal force. Their actions were courageous and prudent,” said Pasadena Police Chief Phillip L. Sanchez.