Pasadena Officers Testify Protesters Attacked Them

Pasadena Police Department officers testified Monday in Pasadena Superior Court that they were kicked and hit repeatedly by unruly protesters outside the Civic Auditorium late last year.

Alejandro Torres, 22, of San Pedro; Christopher Wohlers, 23, of Long Beach; Ulises Hernandez, 21, of Van Nuys; and Benjamin Torres, 29, of Pasadena, are accused of felony battery with injury on a peace officer and resisting arrest. They were arrested Nov. 14 while protesting a speech by former Mexican president Vicente Fox.

Judge Teri Schwartz held a preliminary hearing Monday to determine whether probable cause exists for the case to proceed. The defendants waived their right to a continuous hearing, so the proceedings will continue Tuesday morning. So far, only police officers have testified, but the defense is expected to call witnesses as well.

According to testimony from the officers, the Pasadena Police Department received word from the Los Angeles Police Department about a protest planned for Fox’s speech. LAPD reportedly relayed safety concerns because of previous events where the group had protested.

Pasadena police had seven officers plus supervisors at the event, and barricades were set up to keep the area in front of the auditorium clear. Only those with tickets to the event were allowed to walk in front of the building, according to police.

Although the protest began peacefully, Sgt. Bobby Crees testified some of the protesters would try to test authorities by entering areas where police had told them to stay away.

“Small groups would break off and come across to see what our reaction would be,” Crees said

Dara Glanzer, 22, was the first to be arrested when she bypassed the barricade after previously being told to stay on the other side of Green Street, according to police.

A short time later, a group of protesters crossed the street while some officers were responding to a vehicle accident. Crees said the group was ordered to go back to the crosswalk and cross.

Crees said Brian Connolly, 36, crossed the street 50 to 75 feet from the crosswalk. Crees testified that he ordered Connolly to stop in order to cite him for jaywalking, but Connolly shouted an obscenity at him and continued walking back to the group of protesters. Crees said he wanted to send a message that the police did not want to cause trouble but were serious.

“Hopefully, that would have calmed the crowd down,” he said.

However, the situation became physical when Crees followed Connolly back to the group of protesters. According to police, Crees was blocked by two protesters and then shoved from behind and hit on the side of the face.

Officer Carlo Montiglio said he saw Benjamin Torres shove Crees in the back. He said the “scene broke out into chaos” at that point. He also testified that Wohlers struck Crees 10 to 15 times, while Hernandez is accused of hitting the sergeant in the face.

Officer James Lopez, the lead investigator, said he witnessed a group of 10 to 15 protesters surrounding Crees and pushing and striking him.

Lopez said he used his baton to block others from going to Crees when he was “grabbed, hit and struck” by protesters who were never identified. He alleges Alejandro Torres kicked him in the back with military-style boots, and he suffered back problems for a month with constant pain for two weeks.

The defendants maintain their innocence, and 18 protesters have filed claims against the city alleging police brutality. Their civil rights attorney is preparing to file a lawsuit.

The police officers admitted using force, including punching one protester in the face and stepping on another’s wrist. However, they claim those actions were taken to stop those who were fighting.

Attorneys for the protesters have tried to show the police initiated the confrontation and were wrong to prohibit the protesters from walking in front of the building. The permit allowed access to the front of the building but did not specify that only those with tickets were allowed to walk in that area, according to the attorneys.

Glanzer and Connolly originally faced numerous charges but reached an agreement to plead guilty to jaywalking with all other charges dismissed.