Pasadena Police Chief Recaps Week’s Critical Incidents

On January 7, Pasadena Police officers responded to the area of Fair Oaks Avenue and Villa Street regarding an Assault with a Deadly Weapon investigation. On arrival, officers talked with the victim who said he was walking in the area of Fair Oaks when he saw a person who he knew as “Jeff.”

The victim talked with Jeff and later walked away. Jeff followed the victim to the area of Garfield Avenue and Villa Street. Without warning, Jeff approached the victim and struck him on the back of the head with a blunt side of a hatchet. Jeff then fled north on Garfield Avenue out of sight of the victim.

The victim did not report the incident for several days; nevertheless, our investigation is ongoing.

On January 10, Pasadena Police officers assigned to the department’s Special Enforcement Section (SES) and PFD Captain/Arson Investigator Wendell Eaton served a search warrant in the 800 block of North Oakland Avenue. The search warrant followed the arrest of two arson suspects who allegedly used a pipe bomb to start a fire on or near Jan 1.

Because of the potential for additional explosives, officers used a robot to search the suspect’s home. Los Angeles County Bomb Squad personnel also assisted in the investigation. Officers did not locate any additional explosives and no evacuations were necessary. This case highlights the extraordinary collaboration between PPD and PFD. Equally impressive is the police work completed by Captain Eaton and the involved Pasadena Police officers. SES Police Lieutenant Cheryl Moody was the incident commander and PFD-PIO Lisa Derderian was on hand to answer questions from the media.