Man accused of attacking security guards at Pasadena library


PASADENA >> Two security guards fought with, disarmed and ultimately subdued a knife wielding man who became violent after be asked to leave the Pasadena Public Library at closing time on Friday, police said.
One of the security guards suffered a cut to his hand, and the other sustained bumps and bruises, but no one was seriously injured in the incident, which unfolded about 6 p.m. at the library, 285 E. Walnut Street, Pasadena police Lt. William Grisafe said.
The incident began when a security guard asked Aristotle Williams Edwards, 18, of Pasadena to leave the library because it was closing, but he refused, the lieutenant said.
“The security guards attempted to escort the suspect out, at which time the suspect displayed a weapon, a knife, and threatened the security guard,” Grisafe said.
The two men became involved in a fight, and a second security guard rushed to help.
Grisafe said the security guards managed to wrestle the knife away from Edwards and hold him until police arrived. Edwards was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.
One of the security guards, a man in his 30s, suffered a cut to his hand, police said. The other guard, a man in his 50s, suffered bruises and abrasions.
According to Los Angeles County booking records, Edwards was being held on $76,000 bail pending his initial court appearance.

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Sketch released in search for failed Pasadena kidnapper

PASADENA >> Police have released a composite sketch of a man who tried to kidnap a woman from a Pasadena street before being scared away by a good Samaritan last weekend, authorities said.
The attempted abduction took place just after 8 p.m. along Maple Street, just west of Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena police officials said.
The woman, who was in her late-teens, suffered minor injuries to her elbows and knees from being dragged by the would-be kidnapper, but was not seriously hurt, Pasadena police Lt. William Grisafe said at the time.
She was walking down the street when she noticed a man standing on the sidewalk ne to the opened passenger-side door of a white pickup truck, Pasadena police said in a written statement.
“Once the victim walked past the suspect, the suspect pulled her by the hair causing her to turn and fall to the ground,” according to the statement. “The suspect managed to drag the victim a short distance despite her physical efforts to resist.”
A passing motorist noticed the struggle and came to a stop, officials said.
“This action by the witness caught the attention of the suspect, who then released the victim,” the statement said.
The attacker got into the driver-side of the pickup truck and was last seen driving West on Maple Street, then entering the 134 Freeway.
Officers searched the area for the suspect, as well as witnesses, officials said. He remained at-large Friday.
Police described him as a Latino man in his 20s, with a light complexion, of thin build, clean-shaven, with light brown hair.
He drove a white, late-1990s- or early-2000s-model pickup truck, possibly a Dodge Ram with an extended cab. It was missing its front bumper.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Pasadena police at 626-744-4241. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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Man stabbed during fight outside Pasadena convenience store


PASADENA >> Three men beat and stabbed another man after an argument escalated into a fight outside a Pasadena convenience store early Thursday, officials said.
The stabbing was first reported to police about 3 a.m. after the victim arrived at a hospital for treatment, but was believed to have taken place about 2 a.m. in front of a 7-Eleven store at Lake Avenue and Orange Grove Boulevard, Pasadena police Lt. Jesse Aguilar said.
A 29-year-old Pasadena man arrived at the store with his wife, the lieutenant said. Three other men who were standing outside the door as the man and wife entered the convenience store made derogatory comments and called the man, “white boy.”
As the victim and his wife exited the store, the men continued with their insults and slurs, Aguilar said. The victim confronted the men, and a fight ensued.
At some point during the melee, the man was stabbed with an unseen knife or other sharp object, according to Aguilar. He sustained gashes to his head and arm.
The man’s wife drove him to a hospital, where he was being treated for injuries described as serious but not life-threatening, Aguilar said. The three attackers fled, Aguilar said.
They were described as three Latino men of about 25 years old wearing T-shirts. Two of them stood about 6 feet tall and weighed 180 to 190 pounds, while the third was about 5 feet 8 inches tall and 180 to 190 pounds.
Anyone with information can reach Pasadena police at 626-744-4241. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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74-year-old Pasadena man accused of road rage attack


PASADENA >> Police arrested a 74-year-old Pasadena man on Wednesday after he struck another man with a stick in a fit of road range following a minor traffic accident, officials said.
The suspect and the alleged victim, a 37-year-old Pasadena man, were involved in a minor, non-injury fender bender shortly before 12:30 p.m. in the 1600 block of East Washington Boulevard, Pasadena police Lt. Jesse Aguilar said.
“Both subjects began arguing about the accident,” Aguilar said. “The suspect pushed the victim several times.”
The senior citizen then retrieved a wooden stick from his business nearby, the lieutenant said. He struck the other man on the side of his body and one of his legs.
Police arrived and took Isaac Mereshian into custody on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, Aguilar said.
The victim suffered minor injuries and declined to be taken to a hospital, he added.
According to Los Angeles County booking records, Mereshian was being held in lieu of $30,000 bail at the Pasadena City Jail pending his initial court appearance.

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Man struck in face with beer bottle during quinceanera party in Pasadena


PASADENA >> Police are seeking a man who struck another man in the face with a beer bottle during a quinceanera celebration in Pasadena on Saturday night, authorities said.
The alleged attack was reported just after 11:30 p.m. during a 15-year-old girl’s birthday party at a banquet hall in the 700 block of East Washington Boulevard, Pasadena police Lt. William Grisafe said.
Officers responded to a report of an assault and encountered a man in his 30s who had been bashed in the face with a beer bottle, according to the lieutenant. He was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
The alleged attacker had fled before officers arrived, he said.
The suspect had been a guest at the party and was acquainted with others in attendance, however, police were still working to determine his identity on Sunday, Grisafe said.
He was described as a Latino man in his 30s, about 5 feet 5 inches tall and 180 pounds.
Anyone with information can reach Pasadena police at 626-744-4241. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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Woman escapes kidnapping attempt in Pasadena


PASADENA >> A young woman escaped a would-be kidnapped who tried to drag her into his pickup truck in Pasadena on Saturday night with the help of some good Samaritans who intervened in the attack, officials said.
The attempted abduction unfolded about 8:15 p.m. as a woman in her late-teens was walking on the sidewalk in the 400 block of North Fair Oaks Avenue, just north of the 210 Freeway, Pasadena police Lt. William Grisafe said.
A white, late-2000s-model Dodge Ram pickup truck pulled up beside the woman, according to Grisafe.
“The occupant exited the truck, grabbed her from behind and attempted to drag her into the truck,” he said.
The woman screamed for help, drawing the attention of several nearby witnesses.
As the good Samaritans rushed to the woman’s aid, the attacker released her, returned to his truck and sped away, the lieutenant said.
Grisafe said the woman suffered minor injuries to her knees and elbows as a result of being dragged by the failed kidnapper.
Police described the attacker as a Latino man in his early 20s, with a light complexion, about 5 feet 7 inches tall and of thin build.
He was last seen driving west along Maple Street before getting onto the westbound 210 Freeway.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Pasadena police at 626-744-4241. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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8 drivers cited during Whittier checkpoint


WHITTIER >> Police issued eight citations, but made no DUI arrests, during a checkpoint in Whittier on Friday night.
The checkpoint was held Friday night into early Saturday morning along Lambert Road, just east of Scott Avenue, Whittier police officials said in a written statement.
“Eight drivers were arrested and released on citations for operating a vehicle while unlicensed or while their license was suspended or revoked during the checkpoint,” according to the statement.
All eight vehicles were released to other drivers with valid licenses at the checkpoint, police added.

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Armed, masked men rob senior citizen in Pasadena


Two men armed with a rifle or shotgun robbed 71-year-old Santa Barbara man as he sat in his car on Thursday night, officials said.
The crime was reported about 11 p.m. in the 1800 block of East Del Mar Boulevard, Pasadena police Lt. William Grisafe said.
The victim was sitting in his car when two men approached, carrying what was described as a black long gun, such as a rifle or shotgun, he said. They demanded money.
Grisafe said the elderly victim handed over about $100. The robbers were last seen walking east, “nonchalantly,” along Del Mar Boulevard.
Both robbers were described as men in their 20s wearing bandanas covering their faces, Grisafe said.
One was of undetermined race, about 5 feet tall, of heavy build with dark hair, he said. The second robber was possibly Latino or white, of thin build, with dark hair.
Anyone with information can reach Pasadena police at 626-744-4241. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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Police: Pasadena woman finds burglar asleep on floor of her home


  1. PASADENA >> A Pasadena woman awoke to find a burglar asleep on the floor of her home after breaking in, rummaging through the house and making himself a sandwich early Saturday, police said.
    The burglary was reported just after 6:30 a.m. in the 300 block of South Grand Avenue, Pasadena police Lt. William Grisafe said.
    An intruder made his way into the home through an unsecured door and rummaged through several rooms, he said.
    But the man apparently developed an appetite while in the midst of the break-in.
    “He decided to make himself a sandwich,” according to the lieutenant.
    A woman who lives at the home awoke to find the burglar asleep on the floor, Grisafe said.
    She called police, who took responded and took him into custody without a struggle.
    Marvin Donnerson, 51, was booked on suspicion of burglary, according to Pasadena police officials and Los Angeles County booking records.
    Donnerson, who has an extensive arrest record in Los Angeles County dating back at least three decades, was being held without bail due to a hold placed on him by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, records show.
    He was scheduled to make an appearance Tuesday in the Pasadena branch of Los Angeles County Superior Court.
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UPDATE: Man arrested following standoff in East Pasadena


EAST PASADENA >> Deputies used teargas to arrest a man on suspicion after he threatened a shopkeeper with a large knife, smashed windows at the market and then holed up inside his apartment next door for five hours on Thursday, officials said.
Ceasar Jimenez, 27, was ultimately booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, making criminal threats and vandalism, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Mark Reyes said.
Deputies first responded to the market in the 3600 block of East Colorado Boulevard about 11:10 a.m. after receiving reports that a man in his 20s was breaking the glass in the business’ front door, Sgt. David Kearney said.
• Photos: Barricade in East Pasadena
Officials learned Jimenez had tried to take an item from the store without paying and was confronted outside by the store worker, according to Reyes.
Jimenez dropped the knife and left, but soon returned, armed with a large kitchen knife, and accosted the shopkeeper, Reyes said. The victim locked himself inside the store, and Jimenez began smashing windows.
When deputies arrived, they found the man had retreated into his apartment next door and refused to come out, he said.
The man was feared to be armed with a knife, officials said.
A sheriff’s Mental Evaluation Team responded to the scene and continued trying to persuade the man to surrender Thursday afternoon, according to Kearney. A sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau SWAT team was also summoned to the scene.
Sheriff’s officials asked residents via Twitter to avoid the area as the standoff continued, and nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution.
SWAT deputies ultimately fired teargas into the apartment about 4:30 p.m., prompting Jimenez to exit the home and surrender, Reyes said. He was taken to a hospital for examination as a precaution, but suffered no apparent significant injuries.
Jimenez was expected to be arraigned Monday in the Alhambra branch of Los Angles County Superior Court, Reyes said.

PHOTO by Walt Mancini

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