Pasadena Police Say July Saw Continued Downturn in Violent Crime

Police kept busy with over 10,700 calls for service in July, although officials reported a continued downturn in violence.

More than 6,100 of the calls were via the 911 line, according to the Pasadena Police Department.

“As we make our way through the summer months, we continue to see a drop in some of the more serious crimes,” Pasadena police Lt. William Grisafe said. “Pasadena officers are working diligently to make this community safe and their efforts seem to be paying off.”

Officers seized 22 firearms in July, including 19 handguns, one rifle and two shotguns, according to police records.

Officers employed “de-escalation techniques” 221 times during the month, officials added.

Pasadena Police Department Crime Blotter for July 2021:

July 2, 12:30 p.m.: Pasadena officers responded to a traffic collision at North Lake Avenue and Washington Boulevard. When officers arrived, the driver was unresponsive and deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, who stopped to assist after seeing the aftermath of the collision, were performing CPR. The Pasadena Fire Department was summoned to the scene and continued CPR on the victim. The victim was transported to a local hospital and died there. Accident investigators believe the driver suffered from a medical emergency while driving, which caused the minor collision.

July 3, 9:17 p.m.: Pasadena officers responded to a domestic disturbance at a residence in the 600 block of North Oakland Avenue. While investigating the disturbance, officers learned from one of the residents that the other person involved was a convicted felon who placed a firearm in his vehicle prior to their arrival. A search of the vehicle was conducted and both the weapon and ammunition were recovered. The suspect was arrested for a weapons violation.

July 4, 12:46 a.m.: Pasadena police dispatch received a call of a shooting in the 1300 block of Ridge Way. Officers arrived at the scene and contacted the victim who stated that three gunshots were heard. Upon further investigation, officers discovered the resident’s home had been struck. Fortunately, no one was injured as a result of this shooting.

July 5, 3:41 p.m.: Pasadena officers initiated a traffic stop for a vehicle code violation in the area of Colorado Boulevard and Sunnyslope Avenue. The driver was contacted and an open container of alcohol was seen in the front passenger compartment. During a search of the vehicle, officers located a firearm in the passenger compartment. The firearm was loaded and unregistered. The driver is a convicted felon and was arrested for the firearms violation.

July 5, 10:10 p.m.: Pasadena officers responded to the 700 block of Worchester Avenue regarding an assault. Officers were informed a roommate had stabbed another roommate. Officers arrived and found the injured victim outside of the residence. The victim told officers that a roommate came home and assaulted the victim with no provocation. Officers arrested the suspect at the residence for assault. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

July 8, 8:11 p.m.: Pasadena officers responded to the 1800 block of Navarro Avenue regarding a shooting. The victim was in the living room seated on a chair. She heard a loud pop and felt pain in her left leg. She stood and saw that she was bleeding from her leg. She immediately called 911. Paramedics responded and transported her to a local hospital for medical treatment. Officers canvassed the area for witnesses and evidence. Further investigation revealed a vehicle was struck outside of the residence as well. This investigation is ongoing.

July 9, 12:04 p.m.: Pasadena officers initiated a traffic stop for a vehicle code violation near the intersection of Colorado Boulevard and Parkwood Avenue. During the encounter, one of the three occupants was identified as being on parole and a search of the car was conducted. As one of the occupants exited the vehicle, he dropped a firearm. The firearm and several additional rounds of ammunition were recovered from the vehicle. Further investigation was conducted which led to the recovery of more ammunition, narcotics, and identity theft paraphernalia. All three occupants were arrested.

July 11, 3:49 a.m.: Pasadena officers responded to Huntington Hospital to investigate a stabbing victim who had been dropped off. The victim had non-life-threatening wounds but was so intoxicated that he could not provide information to officers. The victim later told officers that he had an altercation with another individual but would not indicate who stabbed him or where the incident occurred.

July 11, 6:10 a.m.: Pasadena officers responded to a call of an unconscious subject inside a car in the 100 block of West California Boulevard. Witnesses indicated that they tried waking the subject by knocking on the window, but to no avail. While checking on the subject’s welfare, officers were able to wake the subject and rule out medical attention. Officers located an unregistered handgun on the front passenger seat. The suspect was arrested without incident and was later discovered to be a convicted felon.

July 11, 9:22 p.m.: Pasadena officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle for vehicle code violations in the area of Hammond Street and Summit Avenue. Upon contact, officers observed an open container of alcohol in the vehicle and detained the driver for further investigation. A loaded handgun and an additional loaded magazine were discovered in the vehicle. The driver was arrested for weapons charges and the firearm and additional evidence were collected by officers.

July 14, 4:56 p.m.: Pasadena officers responded to the area of Glenarm Boulevard and Pasadena Avenue on a call of a man throwing objects at moving vehicles. As officers attempted to detain the subject, he assaulted two officers causing minor injuries. The suspect was arrested for assault on a peace officer, throwing objects at vehicles, and vandalism.

July 14, 7:26 p.m.: Pasadena officers responded to the 700 block of North Marengo Avenue regarding an armed robbery that occurred the previous day. The victim reported he was robbed at gunpoint as he waited for rideshare service. He was on his cell phone when a vehicle pulled up next to him and four subjects exited the vehicle, surrounding him. The subjects forcibly took the victim’s phone and other property. When the victim attempted to get his property back, one of the subjects pointed a handgun at the victim. The suspects fled the area in the vehicle.

July 15, 12:35 a.m.: Pasadena officers responded to Washington Park in regard to a report of an active fire near the handball courts. The officers were able to put out the fire upon their arrival. The subject was contacted hiding behind a bush near where the fire occurred. The suspect had ash marks on his shirt and was identified by witnesses. The suspect was arrested for arson.

July 15, 2:49 a.m.: Pasadena officers responded to the 500 block of North Marengo Avenue regarding an assault. The victim was working in the field when he was approached by the suspect on a bike. For unknown reasons, the suspect became confrontational with the victim and threatened him with a bat. The suspect charged the victim swinging the bat but never struck the victim. The suspect used the bat to damage a parked vehicle and responding officers located the suspect shortly after. He was arrested for assault and vandalism.

July 15, 5:55 p.m.: Pasadena officers responded to the area of Barthe Street and Manzanita Avenue regarding a parked vehicle whose occupants were believed to have been involved in the theft of gardening equipment. Officers contacted the occupant of the vehicle and it was determined the vehicle contained several stolen items. The officers’ discovered the vehicle had been stolen and a firearm was located inside of it. The vehicle’s occupant was arrested for numerous violations and the stolen items were returned to their respective owners.

July 15, 10:59 p.m.: Pasadena officers responded to the 800 block of North Raymond Avenue after reports of gunshots. Upon arrival, officers found evidence of a shooting. The incident is being investigated. No victims or suspects were identified.

July 17, 5:10 p.m.: Pasadena officers responded to the 900 block of North Lake Avenue regarding an armed robbery. Multiple suspects walked into the business and removed the loss. When confronted by employees, a suspect indicated he was in possession of a firearm while threatening the victim. Shortly after leaving the store with the loss, officers arrived and detained a suspect who was on foot. Another suspect was inside their vehicle. Along with recovering the loss, officers located a handgun and narcotics inside the vehicle. Both suspects were arrested for robbery as well as gun and narcotic violations.

July 17, 10:05 pm.: Pasadena officers responded to the 400 block of North Altadena Drive regarding an armed robbery at a business. The suspects arrived at the location at closing time, armed with handguns and masked. Once the loss was taken, they fled in a vehicle. Responding officers did not locate the suspects. No employees were injured.

July 17, 10:04 p.m.: Pasadena officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop of a moving vehicle in the area of North Raymond Avenue and Washington Boulevard. The driver of the vehicle failed to stop and a short pursuit ended at North Fair Oaks Avenue and Claremont Street. Once stopped, the driver attempted to run from the vehicle but was detained by pursuing officers. The driver was found to be in possession of a loaded handgun and was subsequently arrested for various crimes.

July 20, 7:44 p.m.: Pasadena officers responded to the 1200 block of Sunset Avenue regarding a parked vehicle that had sustained apparent bullet strikes during the night. The vehicle’s owner did not hear any gunfire but officers canvassed the area and found evidence of a shooting. This investigation is ongoing.

July 21, 2:36 p.m.: Pasadena officers were in the area of Colorado Boulevard and Virginia Avenue looking for a suspect wanted for multiple violations. Officers contacted the suspect standing next to a parked vehicle with the door open. As officers approached the suspect, he reached into the vehicle and quickly closed the door. The suspect was detained and a loaded firearm was recovered inside the car. The suspect was arrested for outstanding warrants and firearms violations.

July 21, 7:47 p.m.: Pasadena officers responded to the 100 block of East Orange Grove Boulevard regarding a delivery vehicle that had been stolen while making deliveries. With the assistance of the Glendale Police Department’s helicopter, the vehicle was located in the city of Azusa. Officers from that agency attempted to stop the vehicle at which time a pursuit ensued. The pursuit ended in the city of El Monte and the suspect was taken into custody for various crimes.

July 27, 5:46 a.m.: Pasadena officers responded to the 300 block of East Washington Boulevard regarding an armed robbery. The victim was walking to work when a vehicle pulled alongside him and the passenger exited the vehicle. The suspect pointed a handgun at the victim and forced him to lie down on the sidewalk. The suspect took the loss. The suspect then entered the passenger side of the suspect vehicle and fled east on Washington Boulevard.

July 28, 3:12 p.m.: Pasadena dispatch received a call of an assault in the 1000 block of North Fair Oaks Avenue. Responding officers discovered the suspect had caused a disturbance at the location and had been told to leave. The suspect struck and kicked the victim multiple times. The victim sustained only minor injuries and the suspect was later arrested for the assault.

July 29, 3 p.m.: Pasadena officers responded to the 200 block of Pepper Street regarding an assault among family members. An associate of the suspect had thrown the victim to the ground while the family member/suspect entered her vehicle and struck the victim while she was on the ground. Both the family member and the suspect left the location prior to officers arriving. The victim sustained only minor injuries.

July 29, 9:42 p.m.: Pasadena officers observed a vehicle driving in the area of Montana Street and North Raymond Avenue and conducted a traffic stop for vehicle code violations. The driver of the vehicle had an outstanding arrest warrant and was detained. Additionally, the driver was on active parole and consented to a search of his vehicle at which time a handgun was located. The driver was arrested for firearms violations.

July 29, 10:35 p.m.: Pasadena officers were dispatched to the area of St. John Avenue and California Boulevard regarding a male heard yelling that he had been shot. While officers were searching the area for a victim and/or evidence of a crime, a local hospital called the Police Department’s dispatch center to report a patient suffering from a gunshot wound had arrived. The victim was admitted to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and detectives are conducting an investigation.

July 29, 10:43 p.m.: While Pasadena officers were at the hospital investigating the previous shooting incident, a stabbing victim walked into the hospital’s emergency room. The victim was immediately treated. His wounds were non-life-threatening. The victim told officers the suspect was his roommate, but the assault was unprovoked. Officers responded to the 1000 block of North Raymond Avenue, where the incident occurred, and arrested the suspect.

July 30, 9:26 a.m.: Pasadena officers responded to the 700 block of South Arroyo Parkway to investigate a report of an armed robbery. Officers contacted the victim and discovered it was an attempted robbery. The victim informed the officers that after parking his car, the suspect contacted him and accused the victim of a road-rage incident just minutes earlier. The suspect also displayed a handgun and demanded money. The victim simply walked away and the suspect left in a vehicle. The victim did not suffer any injuries.

July 30, 3:30 p.m.: Pasadena officers responded to the 100 block of North Raymond Avenue on a report of an assault. The victim and suspect had a verbal dispute and the suspect struck the victim with a cane, causing minor injuries. The suspect walked away and the victim called police. Later in the day, the suspect was located by officers in a local park and was arrested for the assault.

July 31, 10:46 a.m.: Pasadena officers responded to the 200 block of Vinedo Avenue to investigate a shooting incident that occurred overnight. A witness told officers he had heard the shots around 3 a.m. but did not report it until the next day after he discovered evidence of the shooting. No other victims or suspects were located.

July 31, 2:03 p.m.: Pasadena officers were dispatched to a residence in the 800 block of North Fair Oaks Avenue regarding a robbery that had occurred two days earlier. The victim had delayed reporting the incident because he had traveled out of the area. He reported a vehicle had approached him during the incident and four suspects exited their car with a handgun pointed at the victim. The suspects took the victim’s property and fled in their vehicle.