Drugs, Marijuana Seized Following Short Police Pursuit in Pasadena

Police arrested two men and seized a loaded handgun and marijuana allegedly meant for sales from their car following a brief pursuit that began as a routine traffic stop in Pasadena Monday night, officials said.

The incident began about 9:45 p.m. when an officer tried to pull over a car for a traffic violation in the area of Howard Street and Sunset Avenue, Pasadena police Lt. Sean Dawkins said.

The driver fled, initiating a chase, said Dawkins.

At two different points during the pursuit the driver stopped the vehicle and it appeared as though he was going to surrender, but again sped off when officers approached, according to Dawkins.

After leading officers on a chase for about a half-mile, the car came to a stop one last time at Lincoln Avenue and Palisade Street, he said. The driver and a passenger were taken into custody.

A search of the car turned up a loaded 9mm handgun, as well as marijuana allegedly meant for sales, Dawkins said.

The driver, identified as Jose Alfredo Urquia of Pasadena, was booked on suspicion of evading police, carrying a loaded firearm in public, and possession of marijuana for sales, according to police and Los Angeles County booking records. 

Passenger Luiz Ivan Loya, 28, of Pasadena was booked on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of marijuana for sales.

Loya was already awaiting legal proceedings in two pending cases at the time of his arrest, according to L.A. County Superior Court records. He stood accused of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm stemming from a March 10 arrest, as well as drug possession from another arrest on June 15. Hearings in both cases had been scheduled for Thursday.

Records also list a 2017 conviction for Loya on a charge of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

Urquia was cited and released from custody early Tuesday, booking records show. Loya was also released from custody after posting $35,000 bail.