South Pasadena Police Arrest Suspect for Animal Cruelty Incident in Police Department’s Lobby

On Saturday, at approximately 10:00 am, officers were dispatched to the front of the South Pasadena Police Department to investigate animal cruelty that just occurred inside the Department’s lobby.

An on-duty police department records clerk was working in the area next to the front lobby and heard a male subject yelling. When she looked at the monitor that was displaying a live video feed of the lobby, she saw the suspect with a small Chihuahua on a leash exiting the lobby.

The records clerk then saw the suspect return to the lobby where he kicked the dog.

As she continued to monitor the live feed, the clerk notified a police dispatcher as to what was happening. The records clerk then saw the suspect kick the dog several more times and violently swing it in the air by its leash in a circular motion.

The suspect then left the lobby with the dog while being followed by the records clerk and a police dispatcher.

Responding officers located the suspect at Mound Avenue and Mission Street and he was subsequently arrested. The dog had undetermined injuries and was released into the custody of the Pasadena Humane Society.

The suspect was later identified as 48-year old Christian Andrew Najera, a resident of the City of Los Angeles. Police say Najera has a lengthy criminal record, including several arrests and convictions for violent offenses.