Social Media Video Reportedly Shows Pasadena Police Forceful Arrest in Which Suspect’s Leg was Broken

A video has emerged on social media which purports to show two Pasadena police officers subduing and restraining a suspect with such force that the suspect’s leg was broken.

The suspect in the video, Christopher Ballew, 21, of Altadena, told Pasadena Now that the video is genuine and shows his arrest on the night of November 9, 2017 at the Mobil gas station at Fair Oaks Avenue and Woodbury Road in Pasadena.

City officials have not confirmed the authenticity of the video, which has now been watched over 7,500 times.

City of Pasadena spokesperson William Boyer said that the City is aware of the incident and it is under review by the police department.

Boyer also said that the city is aware of the video, and that too is also under review.

“The city and its police department take very seriously any allegations of inappropriate conduct by our sworn officers,” Boyer said.

In the incident, police allege that Ballew refused to comply with the orders of the officers, who pulled in behind him at a Mobile station to execute a traffic stop for multiple traffic violations.

Pasadena Police Lt. William Grisafe originally said the next day that Ballew scuffled with the officers and “was able to get the baton of one of the officers. A fight ensued, and he ran. They were able to get him into custody and he was arrested.

Grisafe did not explain how the suspect’s leg was broken. He did say that Ballew was arrested on suspicion of assault on a peace officer and was transported to a hospital.

Ballew was then transferred to the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles on $50,000 bail.

Ballew told Pasadena Now on Monday that he never tried to take the baton from the officer but rather was holding onto it to stop the blows he was receiving prior to the start of the video.

“I pulled into a Mobile gas station and then the police pulled [in],” Ballew said. “They turned on their lights as I was walking to go get something to drink in the gas station. The two officers stopped me and told me to come over. As the situation escalated, they were increasingly aggressive.”

Ballew said that said his leg was broken “when the police officer hit me in the leg with a baton.”

Vice Mayor and Chair of the Public Safety Committee Councilmember John J Kennedy said of the video, “I took the time to review it and I would simply say that I do not have all the facts on the matter involving Chris Ballew and the Pasadena Police Dept. Additionally, I do not know when the city will release body-worn camera video of the incident assuming that it exists.”

“I hope the city is in a position to release to the public whatever video it may have to advance the policy objective of providing as much transparency as legally possible,” Kennedy said.

Ballew, who said today he has not yet retained a lawyer to represent him, is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday morning at the Pasadena Courthouse.