Drunken Crowd Attacks Police, 2 Officers Injured

A group of about 15 partygoers, many intoxicated, challenged and attacked Pasadena police officers in a street melee that erupted in the 1000 block of North Raymond Ave. at 1:30 a.m. early Sunday morning. Two officers sustained injuries and three suspects were arrested, a police lieutenant said.

Police were responding to a citizens’s call that a fight was occurring in the street and one of the fighters was armed with a gun, Lt. Vasken Gourdikian said.

When responding officers arrived, they found what appeared to be a party breaking up. Officers sought out the individual described in the citizen’s call as being armed with a gun. As police moved to locate that suspect, the crowd challenged and then attacked the officers in the street, Gourdikian said.

The Lieutenant said he was on scene with 14 to 15 patrol officers and  two sergeants.

As officers fought to control the crowd, one was struck from behind on the back of his head and also suffered cuts to his hand and arms. A second officer received minor injuries, police reported.

“One of the officers deployed pepper spray to subdue two of the suspects,” Gourdikian said. “The other suspect was taken to the ground and placed in a control hold.”

Three suspects were taken into custody, Gourdikian said.

Tómas Fonseca, 18, of Pasadena, and Xitlalic Ramirez, an 18-year-old woman, were both arrested and charged with felony assault on a peace officer.

Jose Sanchez, 21, was arrested and charged with misdemeanor obstruction of justice.

Gourdikian said no firearm was found to be in the possession of any of the partygoers.