Traffic Stop Leads to Pursuit, Hunt and Finally Takedown as Suspect Hides Behind Shower Curtain

An afternoon traffic stop in a quiet Pasadena neighborhood turned into a wild pursuit, search and takedown of car and package thieves — one as he as he tried to hide behind a shower curtain — Wednesday afternoon.

The scenario started to unfold at 3:58 p.m. when a white vehicle was pulled over for a traffic stop, Pasadena Police Lt. John Luna said. As the officer dismounted his motorcycle, the vehicle took off and a pursuit ensued.

The officer giving chase lost sight of the suspect vehicle in the vicinity of East Glenarm Street and El Molino Avenue.

“A resident in the 900 block of Madison Avenue reported a white vehicle in their driveway with the engine smoking,” Luna said. “The driver, a male, and a passenger, a female, fled the vehicle.”

Responding officers discovered the vehicle had been reported as stolen in Pasadena. Inside, the officers found stolen packages.

A parameter containment was setup in the area and a police helicopter joined the search. Shortly thereafter, a resident reported a man jumping over a rear fence in the 1000 block of South Madison Avenue.

“At the same time, two high school teenagers who resided in the 1000 block of South Oakland arrived home,” Luna said.

The teenagers told officers that one of their homes French doors was unlocked. Officers swept through the house and while searching a bathroom encountered the male suspect “hiding behind the vinyl shower curtain.”

“During the struggle inside the close quarters — it was small bathroom — the suspect was struck in the face causing injury to his nose,” Luna said.

The suspect was taken into custody and positively identified by the initial motor officer before being taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Luna said the female suspect was detained near the stolen vehicle.

Arrested were Donald Scother, 31, and Stephanie Luther, 25, both residents of San Bernardino, Luna said. The pair was booked for automobile theft and residential burglary, Luna said.

 

 

 

 

the male suspect was transferred to a local hospital for treatment.