Suspect in Armed Robbery of Food from Pasadena Roscoe’s Following Argument Over Mask Denies Charges

A man accused of robbery and assault for allegedly holding up a Pasadena Roscoe’s House of Chicken & Waffles, fleeing with only food, last month after being denied service for not wearing a face mask pleaded not guilty to criminal charges on Thursday, officials said.

Steve Carlos Williams, 43, of Duarte pleaded not guilty to two counts of robbery, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of being a convicted felon in possession of a gun, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court officials and records. A preliminary hearing was set for April 22 in the Pasadena branch of Los Angeles County Superior Court.

The charges stem from a bizarre robbery police said unfolded about 5:40 p.m. on Feb.3 at the eatery at 830 N. Lake Ave.

After arguing with an employee over his lack of a face covering, Williams pulled a handgun, threatened two employees and stole several bags of food, Pasadena police officials said at the time. No money was taken.

The suspect remained at large until Feb. 23, when he was arrested in Irwindale in connection with an unrelated incident in which he’s accused of pulling a gun on two homicide detectives.

The detectives were investigating the stabbing death of a woman that had occurred three days prior in a riverbed near the 2800 block of East Huntington Drive in Irwindale, according to Lt. Barry Hall of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau.

The detectives encountered Williams at the scene, he said. The suspect, who was believed to be high on PCP, pointed a gun at them and engaged the investigators in a brief standoff before being taken into custody. He was booked on suspicion of attempted murder. A motive for the alleged attack on the detectives was not clear.

While in custody for the Irwindale incident, investigators in Pasadena identified Williams as the suspect in the heist at Roscoe’s, officials said.

Williams already had a long criminal history in the area, according to L.A. County Superior Court records.

Convictions include drug possession in 2019, 2018, twice in 2014, 2013 and 2012, records show.

Previous convictions also include resisting or obstructing police in 2017, giving false ID to police in 2016, auto theft in 2014, burglary in 2008 as well as grand theft, possession of drugs for sales and possession of an illegal weapon in 2003.

According to county booking records, Williams was being held without bail pending legal proceedings.

Anyone with information was urged to contact the Pasadena Police Department at (626) 744-4501. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

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