Police Chief Shows Assault Rifle with “Tremendous Lethal Power” Found by Officers Last Week

 Editor’s Note: In a report on last week’s critical public safety incidents, Chief of Police Phillip Sanchez highlighted the recovery of an extremely high powered automatic weapon officers took into custody as they arrested two felony suspects on April 30, 2015 near Old Pasadena.

On April 25, at about 7:05 p.m., Pasadena Police officers responded to the area of Washington Boulevard and Fair Oaks Avenue regarding a robbery investigation. On arrival, officers talked with the victim who said he walked to the bus stop and noticed a Male Black nearby. The suspect (Anthony Betts, Male Black, 28 years, from Pasadena) asked the victim for money and the victim refused. The suspect continued talking to the victim and at some point demanded his backpack. The victim noticed that the suspect was holding a black / silver semi-automatic handgun in his right hand. The suspect told the victim to remove his personal belongings from the backpack. Fearing for his personal safety, the victim complied with the suspect’s demands. Approximately 5 hours after the robbery, Pasadena Police Officer Bryan Marin was on routine patrol in a marked Pasadena police car. He saw a subject matching the description of the robbery suspect lying on the bus bench at Lincoln Avenue and Hammond Street. Officer Marin detained the suspect and the suspect was positively identified by the victim. The suspect was still in possession of the victim’s backpack! The suspect was arrested without incident and booked at the Pasadena jail. The case was assigned to Detective Alex Torres, who completed follow-up investigation. Detective Torrez presented his case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, who filed felony charges against the suspect.

On April 29, 2015, at about 6:00 pm, Pasadena Police Officers responded to investigate a robbery at La Pintoresca Park. The suspect and victim were in the Skate Park riding their Razor Scooters and the suspect physically assaulted the juvenile victim and stole his scooter. Officer Hammerstrom handled the initial investigation and obtained some suspect information, including a nickname. Officer Cass and Safe School Team Officers Cheung and Bondarczuk followed-up in the Pasadena Schools and were able to identify the suspect. Safe Schools Team Officer Cheung located the suspect the following day and took the suspect into custody. The Juvenile Suspect is currently on Probation for a series of violent felonies and was taken to East Lake Juvenile Hall. The loss was recovered and returned to the victim. This is an exceptional investigation and example of Teamwork by the officers involved. The case was assigned to Detective Campeau, who presented the case to the Los Angeles County Juvenile District Attorney’s Office; robbery charges were filed.

On April 29, at about 9:46 p.m., Pasadena Police Officers Wilf, Herrera, and De Sylva responded to the area of Elmira and Orange Grove Boulevard regarding a report of a man with a rifle. The caller reported that a male was carrying a rifle and walking in the area. On arrival, PPD officers saw a vehicle leaving the area. They believed the armed suspect was in the vehicle and they conducted an enforcement stop. Subsequently, PPD officers located a shotgun and ammunition in the vehicle. Jonathan Camargo, Male Hispanic, 18, from Palmdale, was arrested for brandishing a firearm. A second suspect, Stephen Romo, Male Hispanic, 18, from Burbank, was arrested for an outstanding warrant. Both suspects were taken into custody without incident and processed at the Pasadena jail. The shotgun was booked into the property room.

 

On April 30, at about 1:30 a.m., Pasadena Police officers responded to Old Pasadena regarding a report of female pedestrians being harassed by two Male Hispanics in a Chevy Pick-up Truck. According to the victims, one of the suspects identified himself as a “police officer” and ordered them to get into the truck. Fortunately, the victims refused and notified the police.
Pasadena Police officers arrived within 60 seconds and saw the suspect’s vehicle parked on Arroyo Parkway, south of Green Street. Pasadena Police Lieutenant John Luna and Sergeant Ernie Devis contacted the suspects and located a loaded assault rifle right next to the passenger. The suspects were taken into custody without incident and our preliminary investigation indicates they both have prior criminal records. Marco Alvarez, Male Hispanic Adult, from Fontana, and John Mandy, Male Hispanic Adult, from Whittier, were booked on felony charges at the Pasadena Jail. This case is another outstanding arrest and it underscores just how unpredictable police interactions can be. The assault rifle (.223/5.556 cal.) has tremendous lethal power and has become popular among predators. (See above.)