Alleged Gang Duo Escape Police Friday, Get Busted Saturday for Different Crime

A pair of alleged gang members who reportedly gave police the slip Friday night after a high-speed pursuit were arrested on Saturday when officers stopped them blocks away from an attempted carjacking.

Steven Garcia, 19, and Diego Dominguez, 22, both of Pasadena.

Garcia and Dominguez were booked on suspicion of  attempted carjacking and assault with a deadly weapon upon a peace officer. Police attached gang allegations to both bookings.

According to Lt. Anthony Russo, the carjacking victims were on their way to visit friends when a blue BMW drove up to them in the area of North El Molino Avenue and Villa Street. 

The men inside BMW demanded to know what neighborhood they were from.

The victims drove away, but their car stalled in the area of North El Molino Avenue and East Washington Boulevard, at around 5:10 p.m.

“One of the suspects entered the rear of the victim’s vehicle to try and take the car,” Russo said. “That suspect punched the victim in the face and then told the victim to get out of the car.”

But the driver put up such resistance the pair of would-be carjackers fled. 

A short time later officers saw the suspect’s car near Lake Avenue and Mountain Street and took the pair into custody.

The pair were immediately connected with a pursuit which had occurred on Friday night during which they allegedly attempted to ram a police car. They escaped, but only after pursuing officers identified them.

Sheriff’s Department online booking records Sunday showed Garcia held in the Pasadena jail in lieu of $430,000 bail.

Dominguez remained in the Pasadena Jail in lieu $220,000, the booking records showed.