Senior Citizen Carjacked, Kidnapped While Driving in Pasadena; Suspect Jailed

Police arrested a man who they say forced his way into a senior citizen’s car at a stoplight in Pasadena, ordered the victim to drive and ultimately assaulted the victim before being taken into custody on Friday, authorities said.

Charles Devline Stanfield, 47, was booked on suspicion of carjacking and kidnapping, according to Pasadena police officials and Los Angeles County booking records. He was described as homeless.

The crime unfolded about 11 p.m. Friday as a 72-year-old man was driving in the area of Fair Oaks and Maple Street, Pasadena police Lt. Anthony Burgess said.

The suspect, later identified as Stanfield, forced his way into the victim’s car while he was stopped at a red light, according to the lieutenant.

Police said the carjacker ordered the victim to drive him to a 99 Cents Only store in Pasadena, he said.

But as the car headed south on Fair Oaks Avenue, the carjacker became angry when he realized they were not heading toward the store, Burgess said. It appeared the victim was attempting to drive to the Pasadena Police Department, instead.

Stanfield began hitting the driver and the car came to a halt, the lieutenant said. Stanfield then pulled the victim from his car and attempted to drive off, but was unable to start the vehicle. Witnesses called the police.

Responding officers found Stanfield walking in the area and arrested him without a struggle, Burgess said.

Stanfield was already facing a battery charge stemming from last year at the time of his arrest on Friday, L.A. County Superior Court records show. A bench warrant was issued in the case after he failed to appear in court in March.

Prior convictions included public intoxication, meth possession and telephonic harassment in 2019, as well as committing lewd conduct in public in 2016.

According to booking records, Stanfield was being held without bail pending his initial appearance in L.a. County Superior Court.