Police Continue Making Record Gun Seizures in Pasadena

Police continue to encounter record numbers of guns while patrolling in Pasadena, with 37 weapons seized in March alone, according to police data.

March’s figure raised the overall number of firearms seized by police in Pasadena this year to 88, according to Pasadena police Lt. William Grisafe. The weapons included 76 pistols, nine rifles and three shotguns.

“The total number of seized guns by Pasadena officers continue to shatter all previous recorded years,” according to the lieutenant. “Fortunately, every firearm that was collected was done so safely and mostly with the suspect notifying the officer that they were in possession of a firearm.  These preemptive actions mitigate any potential for violent encounters with officers.”

Police responded to 10,102 service calls in March, including 5,030 911 calls, according to police data. De-escalation techniques were employed during 224 incidents.

Police log:

March 1 at 10:14 a.m.: Officers were dispatched to a business in the 300 block of South Lake Avenue regarding a robbery. During the robbery, the suspect handed a note to an employee threatening that he had a gun and demanded prescription narcotics. The suspect was located and taken into custody by responding officers. The loss was recovered, no firearm was ever found, and no one was injured during this incident.

March 3 at 10:15 a.m.: Officers responded to the 1900 block of Newport Avenue to look for a suspect who was wanted for a recent domestic assault. Officers observed the suspect in a vehicle and a traffic stop was conducted. The suspect was taken into custody without incident and a loaded handgun was located in his waistband.

March 3 at 10:52 p.m.: Officers responded to calls of shots fired in the 2000 block of North Los Robles Avenue and located evidence of a shooting, but all suspects and victims had fled upon arrival. Detectives are examining the recovered evidence and following up on all available leads.

March 4 at 11:16 p.m.: Officers stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation near the intersection of Raymond Avenue and Orange Grove Boulevard. The driver did not have his license in his possession and refused to cooperate when officers asked to exit the vehicle so they could investigate the status of his driving privilege. The driver was eventually removed and officers located a loaded firearm in his pocket and narcotics were recovered from his vehicle. He was arrested and transported to the Pasadena City Jail.

March 5 at 8:12 a.m.: Officers conducted a traffic stop for a vehicle code violation in the area of North Fair Oaks Avenue and Woodbury Road. Officers contacted the two occupants (both who admitted to being gang members) and discovered the passenger was on active parole. The occupants consented to a search of the vehicle at which time they discovered a concealed firearm. Both suspects were arrested and transported to the Pasadena City Jail.

March 5 at 7:54 p.m.: Officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle near the Rose Bowl after the driver of the vehicle was observed committing a violation of the vehicle code. There were two occupants in the car and it was learned the driver was driving with an expired license. When the driver was asked to exit the vehicle to verify the status of his license, officers discovered he was in possession of a loaded handgun in his pocket. Additionally, a search of the vehicle was conducted and a second gun was discovered in the passenger compartment. Both subjects were arrested.

March 6 at 10:18 a.m.: Officers observed two subjects walking in the area of the 400 block of North Raymond Avenue. One of the subjects matched the description of the suspect who was wanted for a previous crime. Officers contacted the two subjects and discovered that one of them possessed a loaded handgun in his pocket. Officers safely recovered the firearm. The suspect in possession of the gun was arrested and transported to the Pasadena City Jail.

March 7 at 10:30 p.m.: Officers responded to a hotel in the 100 block of South Los Robles Avenue regarding the report of a robbery. The victim attempted to purchase marijuana via a phone application and the delivery was to be made to his hotel room. The suspect was let into the victim’s room at which time the suspect demanded money and valuables. Detectives are conducting further investigation into the robbery.

March 8 at 1:46 a.m.: Officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in the area of Colorado Boulevard and Vinedo Avenue after observing a vehicle code violation. Officers contacted the driver and would later conduct a consensual search of the vehicle. During the search, officers located a firearm and drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle.

March 8 at 12:16 p.m.: It was reported to the Pasadena Police Department Communications Center that unknown suspects had broken into a residence in the 3500 block of Ranch Top Road. Two young victims were in the house during the time of the burglary and had heard the suspects break a glass window to access the interior of the residence. Moments after breaking into the house, both suspects fled from the residence with the property lost before officers arrived. The two victims inside the residence were not injured during the burglary.

March 10 at 1:44 a.m.: Police initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle in the area of North Lake Avenue and Maple Street after observing multiple vehicle code violations. While contacting the driver, the officers observed narcotics in the car. When the driver was asked to exit the vehicle so that they could investigate the illegal substance, he notified the officers he had a firearm inside the vehicle. The driver was safely removed from the car and a loaded handgun was recovered. The suspect was arrested for being an ex-convict in possession of a firearm and was transported to the Pasadena City Jail.

March 11 at 11:08 p.m.: Pasadena police conducted a traffic stop after the driver of a vehicle ran a red light in the area of North Oaks Avenue and Holly Street. When contacted, there was evidence the driver was potentially driving while intoxicated and it was determined that he was unlicensed. Officers inquired if the passenger possessed a valid driver’s license, but she did not. The occupants were asked to exit the vehicle so the officers could continue their investigation into the crime of driving while intoxicated and without a license. Prior to both occupants exiting the vehicle, the passenger told officers she possessed a firearm in her purse. Both occupants were removed from the vehicle and the firearm was safely recovered.

March 12 at 8:21 a.m.: Officers initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle that was observed traveling at an excessive speed in the area of North Lake Avenue and Washington Boulevard. The driver was unable to provide the officers with his driver’s license and gave consent to search the interior of the vehicle. During the search, officers located a firearm. The driver was arrested without incident and his vehicle was impounded.

March 12 at 6:55 p.m.: Officers responded to the area of Asbury Drive and Sierra Bonita Avenue after receiving calls of several shots being fired. Officers located evidence of the shooting but it was unclear who the intended target was as there were no victims located. Detectives are investigating the incident.

March 13 at 12:35 a.m.: Officers conducted a traffic stop after observing a traffic violation in the area of North Raymond Avenue and Orange Grove Boulevard. During the stop, it was determined the driver had multiple outstanding warrants for her arrest. Subsequent to her arrest, she admitted to having a firearm concealed in the vehicle. The firearm was located and recovered.

March 13 at 8:54 p.m.: Officers responded to a report of shots fired in the 2500 block of East Foothill Boulevard. Officers arrived and located two victims inside of a parked vehicle who had appeared to have been struck by gunfire. The driver sustained multiple gunshot wounds, and would later succumb to the injuries while at a local hospital. The passenger occupant received only minor injuries. It was unclear as to what provoked the shootings and the investigation is ongoing by Pasadena Homicide/Robbery detectives.

March 16 at 3:49 a.m.: Officers responded to the 200 block of East Claremont Street regarding an assault with a deadly weapon. The victim and suspect were roommates and after a night of alcohol consumption, the suspect began arguing with the victim. The argument escalated to a physical altercation and the suspect slashed the victim with a razor. The victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital. The suspect fled the location before the officers’ arrival. Officers conducted a search of the area but were unable to locate the suspect.

March 18 at 11:56 p.m.: Pasadena Officers were dispatched to the area of North Garfield Avenue and Hammond Street regarding a “shots fired” call. Officers arrived at the scene and located a parked vehicle containing three occupants. The driver’s door of the vehicle appeared to have been struck at least once with a bullet. The victims were not injured as a result of the shooting and neither a suspect nor a suspect vehicle was located.

March 19 at 4:30 p.m.: While conducting a parole compliance check at a residence in the 2700 block of Glenrose Avenue, officers located a stolen semi-automatic handgun. The firearm was accessible to three children, who were present inside the residence.

March 23 at 10:05 p.m.: Officers responded to the area of California Boulevard and South Los Robles Avenue regarding a male driver who was unconscious in an SUV. The vehicle’s engine was running and the SUV was blocking a traffic lane. Paramedics were summoned and once the driver was awake, he became combative and physically struck/kicked officers on multiple occasions. The suspect was arrested for driving while intoxicated and assault of a police officer.

March 25 at 7:22 a.m.: Officers were called to the 1200 block of East Colorado Boulevard regarding a female who was being assaulted by a male. Witnesses ran to the aid of the victim as the suspect walked away. Once officers arrived, they located the suspect in the immediate area and took him into custody. The victim sustained moderate injuries as a result of the assault and the suspect was transported to jail where he was booked.

March 26 at 9:56 p.m.: Officers responded to a report of shots fired in the 1900 block of Navarro Avenue. Officers located evidence of a shooting, however, they did not locate anyone who had been struck by gunfire. Pasadena detectives are conducting additional follow-up into this incident.

March 27 at 12:34 a.m.: Officers responded to another report of shots fired in the area of Elizabeth Street and North El Molino Avenue. Numerous calls were received regarding shots being fired and a person reported hearing several screams from a nearby party, located in the 600 block of Atchison Street. Officers arrived at the scene and found evidence of a shooting but could not locate any suspects or gunshot victims. It was later determined that the location of the shooting/party had been rented out as an Airbnb.

March 28 at 12:56 a.m.: The Pasadena Police Department Dispatch Center received a call of a physical fight between a male and female in which the male was seen dragging the female into a vehicle. Officers arrived within moments and located the suspect vehicle fleeing the scene at a high rate of speed. A short vehicle pursuit was initiated but the pursuing officers subsequently lost sight of the suspect vehicle. Further investigation is being conducted to determine the identities of both the suspect and the victim.

March 28 at 1:02 a.m.: Officers responded to a residence in the 200 block of Barthe Drive regarding a traffic collision. Once on scene, officers determined several vehicles parked in the driveway of the residence had been struck by another vehicle. The driver of this vehicle was determined to be driving while impaired and was subsequently arrested for DUI.