‘Ghost Gun’ Recovered After Felon Leads Pasadena Police on Short Pursuit

A repeat convicted felon led Pasadena police on a short pursuit Friday night before crashing and surrendering to officers, who then recovered an unmarked “ghost gun,” authorities said.

Osvaldo Guerra, 41, of San Dimas was booked on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm, along with other weapon-related charges, according to Pasadena police officials and Los Angeles County booking records.

Officers tried to pull him over for running a stop sign about 11:45 p.m. as he drove a BMW at San Gabriel and Del Mar boulevards, Pasadena police Lt. Anthony Russo said.

“He fled at a high rate of speed,” the lieutenant said.

The driver traveled less than a block before turning onto a cul-de-sac and crashing his car up a curb and onto a residential front lawn, Russo said. He then complied with commands to surrender.

Officers found an unregistered, unserialized, home-built 9mm “ghost gun” at the scene after Guerra attempted to ditch the pistol, he said.

Guerra has a lengthy criminal history dating back 23 years, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court records, which list 33 convictions in the county since 1998.

They include grand theft in 2019; auto theft with a prior conviction for the same in 2017; identity theft and receiving stolen property in 2015; violating a protective order in 2014; auto theft in 2013; domestic battery in 2012; as well as burglary in 2008 and in 2005, court records show.

Guerra’s convictions also include shoplifting on six occasions between 2017 and 2019 and five convictions for methamphetamine possession between 2006 and 2018.

Bail for Guerra was set at $35,000 pending his initial appearance in the Pasadena branch of Los Angeles County Superior Court, records show.