Pasadena Police Chief Recaps Week’s Critical Incidents

On January 22 at approximately 6:15 p.m., Pasadena Police officers responded to the area of Washington Boulevard and Mentor Avenue due to a reported traffic accident (automobile vs. pedestrian). On arrival, officers located the victim, a Male Hispanic (Pasadena Resident) lying in the street suffering from injuries caused by the collision. The Pasadena Fire Department responded and transported the victim to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries. PPD’s preliminary investigation suggests the victim attempted to run across Washington Boulevard when he was struck by a car traveling east. The driver stopped his vehicle after the collision. Alcohol was not involved and the driver cooperated fully with our investigation.

On January 23 at about 3:30 p.m., the Pasadena Police Department received several calls of a “bear sighting” in the 1500 block of Old House Road. PPD officers and SPCA officials responded to the area for public safety considerations. The media was streaming live shots of the bear as it walked through the neighborhood. Officers contained the area, remained at a safe distance, and encouraged inquisitive neighbors to remain indoors. Fish & Game officials were notified; however, the bear made its way back into the forest before they arrived.

On January 23 at about 6:35 a.m., a MTA Bus passenger reported a stalled vehicle on Orange Grove Boulevard near Colorado Boulevard. Pasadena Motor Officers Gilbert Ortiz and John Watkins responded to the area. On arrival, officers located an abandoned vehicle on the Colorado Street Bridge. Nearby they saw a Male Hispanic (Los Angeles Resident, 40s) who appeared distraught. When Ortiz and Watkins contacted the subject he yelled, “Shoot me! Throw me over.” Ortiz and Watkins began talking with the subject hoping to calm him down. They negotiated with the subject for an extended period of time, ultimately persuading him to seek help verses committing suicide by jumping off the bridge. The subject agreed and was taken into custody without incident. The subject was later transported to a local hospital for mental health evaluation. It is very likely the quick thinking of Gilbert and John saved the subject by preventing him from prematurely ending his own life.

On January 23 at about 4:45 p.m., Pasadena Police Department received a bomb call at Goodwill Shipping, located at 340 South Fair Oaks Avenue. On arrival, officers talked with the witness who said he located what appeared to be a hand grenade in a box on a table in the building. The officers maintained a safe distance and could clearly see the device. It appeared to be a “real” hand grenade, which included the “spoon” and pin inserted into the firing mechanism. The building was evacuated and the immediate area around the building was closed off to pedestrians and motor vehicles. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Bomb Squad was called to the scene. LASD Bomb Techs inspected the device and determined it was inert. No foul play was suspected. A LASD Tech removed the device from the premises for disposal. Pasadena Police Sergeant Villalovos supervised the incident.

On January 24 at about 7:45 a.m., the Pasadena Police Department received a call of a possible burglary in progress. The witness observed the suspect (Male White) in the 1100 block of Blanch Street near Wilson Avenue breaking into parked vehicles. On arrival, patrol officers saw the suspect and contained the area. Additional resource (PPD Team 6, WSGV Anticrime Task Force, Motors, PPD Team 7, and detectives) responded to the incident. PPD Sergeant Kirby supervised the search for the suspect, who was subsequently found by Lieutenant Torres hiding inside a trash chute. The suspect was taken into custody without incident. The on-duty watch commander, Lieutenant Clawson, supervised the incident.