Pasadena Police Chief Recaps Week’s Critical Incidents

On October 5, Pasadena Police officers responded to the area of Orange Gove Boulevard and Fair Oaks Avenue regarding a possible assault with a deadly weapon investigation. On arrival, officers talked with the victim (Male Black, 53 – Pasadena resident) who was bleeding from a laceration to his right thigh. He was uncooperative and refused medical treatment. It was unclear how the victim was injured; however, witnesses indicated he was possibly fighting with another male. After the officers spent a great deal of time talking with him, the victim agreed to medical treatment. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Our investigation is ongoing.

On October 12, a UCLA season ticket holder let a young man borrow his authentic UCLA Football helmet so he could wear it while selling candy in the parking lots prior to the game against Cal Berkeley. The young man never returned with the helmet, essentially constituting a theft. The victim never reported the incident to the Pasadena Police Department, however. On November 11, Pasadena Police Officers Andrea Perez and Kevin Okamoto were working the UCLA v. Colorado Football game. They were alerted by the victim (from the October 12 theft incident) who saw the young man with his UCLA helmet once again selling candy in the Rose Bowl parking lots. Andrea and Kevin contacted the young man. At first he denied the incident; however, latter he admitted he did not return the helmet and took it home. The officers spoke with the young man’s mother, who had taken the helmet and safely stored it, assuming it did not belong to her son. After talking with Andrea and Kevin, the young man’s mother agreed to meet with the officers. On November 7, the officers drove to Hawthorne and recovered the UCLA Football helmet from the young man’s mother. The property was subsequently returned to the victim. This incident underscores the dedication and commitment of Officers Perez and Okamoto. The victim was elated.

On November 14 at 8:50 p.m., Pasadena Police officers responded to the area of Michigan Avenue and Corson Street regarding an attempted robbery. The victim (Male Hispanic, Pasadena Resident) told officers he was walking west on the south sidewalk of Corson Street when he noticed the suspect (Male Hispanic) approach and point a handgun at him. Fearing for his safety, the victim ran across Corson Street hoping to get someone’s attention. The victim continued running until he reached Mar Vista Avenue and Walnut Street, where he stopped and called 9-1-1. Several Pasadena Police officers and the police helicopter arrived quickly; however, they did not locate the suspect.

On November 14 at 10:25 p.m., Pasadena Police officers responded to Huntington Memorial Hospital (HMH) regarding a gunshot victim. On arrival, officers talked with the victim (Adult Male Hispanic – Pasadena Resident) who said he “shot himself because he wanted to see how it felt.” PPD officers established the victim’s identity and learned he had been drinking alcoholic beverages prior to the incident. Although uncooperative, it appears the victim’s story is accurate. Our investigation is ongoing.

On November 16 at 12:43 a.m., Pasadena Police officers responded to the Lincoln Motel, in the 1500 block of Lincoln Avenue regarding a Male Black adult acting strange and arguing with a female. Officers Adesina and Burchett arrived quickly and saw the suspect on the west side of the property, near room #110. When the suspect saw the officers, he retreated into room #110 and locked the door. As other officers arrived at the scene, Officer Adesina looked through the window and observed the suspect (Steven Flower, Male Black, 32, Pasadena Resident) standing in the room holding an infant (Female Black, 10 months old) in one arm and a knife (6″ blade) in the other. Flower appeared agitated and angry, as his erratic behavior suggested to the officers that he was possibly under the influence of a controlled substance and/or alcohol. Officer Adesina attempted to gain the suspect’s attention while other officers secured tactical positions outside the motel room.

Pasadena Police Sergeant Bzdigian arrived and assumed command. He saw suspect Flower holding the infant at knife point. Sergeant Bzdigian quickly assembled an emergency entry team. He assigned specific duties to each officer, which included arming some officers with less-lethal devices. Sergeant Bzdigian also assigned lethal coverage to one officer in the event Suspect Flower attempted to stab or cut the infant. Officer Saunders, a trained negotiator, began talking with Flower through the bedroom window. Officer Saunders asked Flower to place the knife on the floor and release the infant. A moment later, suspect Flower dropped the knife; however, he remained barricaded in the room with the infant.

At Sergeant Bzdigian’s direction, Officers Adesina, Burchett, Martinez, Saunders, and Reinbold quickly entered the motel room (they had obtained a pass key) to effect a rescue. Upon entering the room, the suspect retreated into the corner of the bedroom and appeared to be squeezing the infant. Flower was aggressive, belligerent, and appeared paranoid. Officers continued to order suspect Flower to release the infant in a calm and direct manner.

Fearing for the safety of the infant, Sergeant Bzdigian initiated the pre-arranged rescue plan. Officers acted as one unit, each with specific assignments to simultaneously rescue the infant and subdue suspect Flower! He was arrested without further incident. Some of the officers involved in the incident received minor injuries. As a precaution, the infant and the suspect were transported to a local hospital for medical assessment. The suspect was later released from the hospital and booked at the Jail of the Pasadena Police Department.

It is clear that this incident and subsequent rescue saved the infant’s life or at a minimum prevented serious injury. The rescue was well supervised and the mission was clearly communicated by Sergeant Bzdigian. The officers were professional, deliberate, and focused on the safety of the infant and the suspect. We should celebrate the professional restraint, maturity, and courage of these brave Pasadena Police Officers who, I would argue, saved the life of an infant! When suspect Flower threatened the infant with the knife, the totality of the circumstances may have warranted lethal force. Nevertheless, lethal force was avoided in this situation.