Violent crimes reported overnight in Pasadena

PASADENA — Five San Gabriel Valley residents found themselves face to face with violent criminals in unrelated crimes late Friday and early Saturday.
A group of men were threatened at knifepoint after confronting car burglars and a man was beaten and robbed Friday, and a 16-year-old was beaten and robbed early Saturday morning, Pasadena police Lt. Chris Russ said.
Seven suspects were arrested in connection with the crimes.
A Pasadena man, an Azusa man and a La Caada Flintridge man, all in their early 20s, discovered three men who appeared to be breaking into their car about 5:30 p.m. Friday in the 1700 block of East Colorado Boulevard, the lieutenant said.
When the men confronted the burglars, “One of the suspects brandished a knife and threatened to stab the victims,” Russ said.
Two of the burglars then fled on foot, while another fled in a nearby Chevrolet Impala.
Johnny Cruz, 30, of Arizona, Eric Perez, 25, of Azusa and Rogelio Quezada, 32, a transient, were found by police in the area and booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, Russ said. The knife was also recovered, along with a small amount of methamphetamine.
All three were being held in lieu of $30,000 bail at the Pasadena Police Department’s jail Saturday, according to Los Angeles County sheriff’s booking records.
Later Friday evening, a 49-year-old Pasadena man was robbed of his wallet as he was walking in the 600 block of N. Marengo Avenue, police said.
The man fought with the robbers and was punched and kicked in the process, Russ said. He suffered a cut to his upper lip but did not require hospitalization.
Police jailed Jonathan Torres, 22, of Pasadena, Eduardo Barriga, 30, of Pasadena, and two Pasadena juveniles on suspicion of the crime after finding them in a nearby apartment complex, officials said.
According to booking records, Torres was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail Saturday at the Pasadena Police Department’s jail, while Barriga was released Saturday after posting $10,000 bail.
Suspects were not arrested, however, in another violent robbery that took place about 12:50 a.m. at El Sereno Avenue and Howard Street.
A 16-year-old Pasadena boy was walking when he was suddenly attacked by three men, Russ said.
One of the robbers took the boy’s wallet, cell phone and keys as he was being beaten, he added. The boy suffered bruises to his face and scratches.
Authorities described the robbers as a three white men in their early 20s.
One of them was about 5 feet 7 inches tall, about 120 pounds, with short black hair and goatee, wearing a baggy white T-shirt and flannel shorts.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Pasadena Police Department.

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