Pasadena Bus Driver Robbed at Knifepoint

Police arrested a 28-year-old man Thursday afternoon minutes after he allegedly robbed a Pasadena ARTS bus driver at knifepoint and took the victim’s wallet.

The incident happened near a bus stop in the 700 block of N. Fair Oaks Avenue in Pasadena at about 4:55 p.m.

Pasadena Police Lt. John Mercado said the suspect was identified later as Manuel Urena, a Pasadena resident. Police reportedly found a three-inch folding knife in the suspect’s possession when he was arrested.

The bus driver is a Los Angeles resident in his early 30s.

“The driver was stopped at a bus stop on his route, when the suspect entered the bus without a shirt on,” Mercado said. “The driver told the suspect that he needed to have a shirt on to ride the bus. At which point, the suspect pulled out a knife, pointed it at the victim and demanded his wallet.”

Out of concern for his own safety, the driver was forced to give his wallet to the suspect.

Mercado said officers arrived quickly at the scene and saw the suspect still in the area. They arrested him without incident.

“The victim positively identified the suspect as the one who had just robbed him,” Mercado said.

Police recovered the stolen wallet from the suspect and gave it back to the bus driver.