Recently in Pasadena Category
PASADENA -- A worker appears to be fine after being attacked by a swarm of bees Saturday, officials said.
The man, estimated to be about 50, was working shortly before 11 a.m. at a private property in the 500 block of North Wilson Avenue when he disturbed a hive of bees that had taken up residency in a hollow tree, Pasadena Fire Department spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said.
The bees swarmed the man, who received "a few" stings but declined to be taken to a hospital, Derderian said. Paramedics treated the man at the scene and stood by for a brief time to make sure the man was not displaying signs of a reaction to the bee stings.
The street was shut down for several hours Saturday afternoon as a beekeeper removed the hive from the property, Derderian said.
Officials did not initially believe the involved insects were of Africanized or "killer" bees, she said.
PASADENA -- A Pasadena man is accused of drunken driving after backing out of a gas station and crashing through the front window of a department store late Saturday, authorities said.
William Garrett, 50, of Pasadena was booked on suspicion of driving under the influence, Pasadena police Lt. Diego Torres said.
He was backing out of a Mobile gas station at Lake Avenue and San Pasqual Street about 8:30 p.m. when he struck and shattered the window of a Ross department store across the street, the lieutenant said.
"He backed all the way across (San Pasqual Street) street into Ross," Torres said.
Officers who responded to the crash determined Garrett was drunk and arrested him on suspicion of DUI, police said.
According to county booking records, Garrett was released from jail Sunday morning on $30,000 bail pending his initial court appearance.
PASADENA -- Police jailed a local man early Saturday on suspicion of burglarizing a Lake Avenue pharmacy, authorities said.
Anthony Harris, 52, was booked on suspicion of burglary, Pasadena police Lt. Diego Torres said.
Officers responded to a burglary alarm about 2:30 a.m. at CVS Pharmacy, 900 N. Lake Ave., had been smashed, the lieutenant said.
Harris was spotted inside, and surrendered to officers who ordered him out of the business, he said.
It appeared that Harris had been filling a bag with merchandise from the store, Torres added.
He was being held in lieu $21,683 bail at the Pasadena Police Department's jail pending his initial court appearance, according to county booking records.
PASADENA -- A man is behind bars on suspicion of kidnapping and robbing another man late Thursday, polcie said.
Rasheed Mack, 24, of Las Vegas was booked on suspicion of robbery, with a charge of kidnapping expected to be added, Pasadena police Lt. Diego Torres said.
A man in his 30s was waiting at a bus stop at 160 N. Lake Ave. when another man demanded money, Torres said. No weapon was seen.
The victim handed over a small amount of cash, and the suspect forced him to walk to an ATM machine at a nearby grocery store and withdraw more money, the lieutenant said.
While at the store, the victim alerted security guards that he was being robbed, police said.
Store security called the police, who found and arrested Mack as he was walking in the area, Torres said.
According to county booking records, Mack was being held in lieu of $1 million bail pending his initial court appearance.
PASADENA -- Two unrelated robberies kept police busy Friday afternoon, officials said.
The first crime was reported about 12:45 p.m. at Marengo Avenue and Grandview Street, Pasadena police Lt. Diego Torres said.
A 70-year-old man was walking when he was approached by two other men, one of whom was armed with a large folding knife, Torres said.
The robbers demanded cash, and the victim turned over nearly $1,000, he said.
One of the robbers was described as a Latino man in his 50s, about 5 feet 6 inches tall, of thin build, with short salt-and-pepper hair. He wore a light blue shirt and light blue pants.
The second robber was a Latino man in his mid-40s, about 5 feet 3 inches tall, 190 pounds, clean-cut, with short gray hair, police said. He wore a light blue business suit.
The robbers were last seen running north from the area.
A second robbery was reported about 2:30 p.m. at a gas station on Hill Avenue at Walnut Street, Torres said.
An employee was preparing to make a bank deposit when a robber armed with a stun gun confronted him and demanded the money, police said.
The victim, who is in his 60s, and the robber struggled briefly before the robber manage to get the money and run, Torres said. the employee was not hurt.
Police described the robber as a black man in his mid-30s, of dark complexion, with short black hair, wearing blue jeans and a black jacket.
PASADENA -- A woman pretending to be a police officer ended up in jail Thursday after an encounter with the real thing, officials said.
Sonia Yeretzian, 37, was booked on suspicion of impersonating a police officer, as well as outstanding warrants including one for a previous allegation of impersonating an officer in Pasadena, Pasadena police Lt. Diego Torres said.
The woman wore a blue shirt, blue pants and boots when she told firefighters she met in the 1100 block of Linda Vista Avenue Thursday afternoon that she was a police officer, Torres said.
The firefighters became suspicious and called police, who responded, found Yeretzian driving in the area and pulled her over, the lieutenant said.
She told Pasadena officers that she was a member of the Los Angeles Police Department, which turned out to be false, Torres said.
It was not clear why the woman claimed to be a police officer, he added.
According to county booking records, Yeretzian was being held in lieu of $64,500 bail pending her initial court appearance.
VAN NUYS -- A judge sentenced a man to 21 years in prison Thursday for the fatal shooting of a popular Pasadena professor, officials said.
Steven Ronald Honma, 56, of Westlake Village, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in November for the March 20, 2010 slaying of 50-year-old Norman Schureman of Altadena.
Schureman was a professor at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena.
Honma received his sentence in Van Nuys Superior Court from Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Thomas Rubinson, Los Angeles County District Attorney's officials said in a written statement.
The shooting took place at a Persian New Year's Eve Party hosted by Schureman's mother-in-law in the 31700 block of Kentfield Court in Westlake Village, officials said.
"The defendant got into a fight and was asked to leave," according to the D.A.'s statement. "Honma left the party but returned with multiple concealed weapons, ammunition and a serrated knife."
Sheriff's officials said Honma had two guns with him at the time of the shooting, though only one was fired.
"When Honma was asked to leave a second time, a fight ensued and the defendant drew a handgun, fatally shooting Schureman," according to the statement.
Schureman taught product design at Art Center for nearly two decades.
He is survived by his wife and two young children. More than 1,000 mourners gathered for his memorial service at the school, and a scholarship has been established in his name.
GLENDALE -- A former Pasadena City College assistant women's volleyball coach has been arrested on suspicion of taking cell phone video up a woman's skirt on an escalator, authorities said Wednesday.
John Puncel, 49, of Sylmar was booked on suspicion of taking "up-skirt" video, possession of child pornography, assault on a police officer and obstructing police, Glendale police Sgt. Thomas Lorenz said.
Glendale police officers assigned to a substation housed at the Glendale Galleria, 100 West Broadway, noticed Puncel holding a cell phone in his hand near the bottom of an escalator, the sergeant said.
"When this woman got onto the escalator, they could see him sticking (the cell phone) under her skirt," he said.
The officers immediately recognized Puncel's activity as a crime and approached him, however Lorenz said the officers and Puncel got into a brief scuffle over his cell phone.
"He tried to resist, push back from the officers," Lorenz said. "He didn't want the officers to get their hands on the phone."
One officer suffered abrasion to his arm during the scuffle, resulting in the additional charge of assaulting a peace officer, officials said.
The woman, 49, "was totally unaware of what was going on, Lorenz said.
When shown footage taken up her skirt on Puncel's camera, the alleged victim was "shocked and outraged," he said.
She herself placed Puncel under private person's arrest, under the supervision of officers, Lorenz said. "She wasn't going to tolerate it."
Detectives seized Puncel's phone and computer and were still in the process of examining them for evidence, Lorenz said.
Investigators Wednesday had already found "several" other suspicious images in Puncel's possession, including nude images of people who appear to be minors, Lorenz said. Other potential victims in the seized footage had not been identified Wednesday.
Puncel was released from jail Tuesday afternoon pending further investigation and the presentation of the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, Lorenz said.
A phone number listed in public records as belonging to Puncel no longer appeared to be valid Wednesday.
In addition to being an ex-assistant women's volleyball coach at PCC, Puncel is also listed as a board member on the website of the San Gabriel Valley Football Officials Association.
The SGVFOA helps provide referees for high school football games for more than 30 high schools throughout the region.
It was not clear if his work with the organization placed him on high school campuses. SGVFOA officials could also not be reached for comment.
PCC spokesman Juan Gutierrez said he was still working to collect information regarding Puncel's employment history at the school Wednesday afternoon.
A press released issued by the school welcomed him to the campus as an assistant women's volleyball coach in late 2006.
The occupation listed on his booking sheet was "landscaper," officials said.
Because of the nature of the alleged crime and the additional footage found in Puncel's possession, detectives reached out to the public for help with the investigation.
Anyone who believes they've had a suspicious encounter with Puncel is asked to call Glendale police at 818-548-3106.
PHOTO of John Puncel courtesy of the Glendale Police Department
PASADENA -- Authorities jailed two men Saturday on suspicion of auto theft after they were pulled over in an allegedly stolen car.
Clarence Jackson, 30, of Altadena and Termel Mercer, 30, of Palmdale were booked on suspicion of grand theft auto, Pasadena police Lt. Diego Torres said.
Officers spotted the 2011 Nissan Altima driving about 4:30 p.m. at Fair Oaks Avenue and Washington Boulevard and realized it had been reported stolen, the lieutenant said.
They then pulled the Altima over and arrested the two men inside -- later identified as Jackson and Mercer -- without a struggle, Torres said.
According to county booking records, Jackson was being held in lieu of $45,000 bail pending his initial court appearance, while Mercer was being held in lieu of $25,000 bail.
PASADENA -- Police arrested three teens Tuesday on suspicion of breaking into an apartment.
Officers responded to a report of a break-in about 1:45 p.m. at an apartment in the area of Mentor Avenue and California Boulevard, Pasadena police Lt. Jari Faulkner said.
Police cordoned off the area and performed a search with the help of a police helicopter and K-9, ultimately finding the three 16-year-old Pasadena teens hiding in the neighborhood, the lieutenant said. They were arrested without a struggle.
Cash and jewelry believed to have been taken from the apartment was recovered, she added.
Police instructed nearby Polytechnic School to keep students inside during the search as a precaution, Faulkner said.
Pasadena Fire Department firefighters doing their thing at a chimney fire Sunday night in the 900 block of South Madison Avenue.- Courtesy of Jamie Nicholson, PFD Volunteer
Sunday's blaze was the second chimney fire handled by the PFD this week.
PFD spokeswoman Lisa Derderian reminded residents to check their chimneys annually, and that now is an especially important time to do so, as recent windstorms may have caused extra debris to accumulate.
PASADENA -- The 210 Freeway came to a screeching halt early Saturday as separate big rig crashes forced lane closures for both directions of travel, authorities said.
A big rig hauling milk overturned on the 210 Freeway tunnel in Pasadena Saturday morning, forcing the closure of two lanes of the connector road into the afternoon, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The crash was reported shortly after 7 a.m. on the eastbound 210 Freeway connector road to the eastbound 210 Freeway in Pasadena, near the 134 Freeway junction, CHP logs indicated.
No major injuries were reported in the crash, however two lanes of the road remained closed until about 1:45 p.m. as officials worked to pump the milk out of the overturned truck and clear the wreckage.
Drivers were advised to take the southbound 2 Freeway to the eastbound 134 Freeway in order to get around the crash.
Further slowing morning travels through Pasadena Saturday, another big rig forced the closure of the westbound connector road in the same area for about two hours after it crashed about 7 a.m., according to the CHP.
As is common when rain comes to the Southland, the number of crashes reported to the CHP spiked Saturday morning, officials said.
Prelimary data release by the agency showed 315 collisions reported to the CHP in Los Angeles County between midnight and 9 a.m. Saturday, compared with only 55 crashes reported over the same time period one week earlier on Jan. 14, when the weather was dry.
PASADENA -- Two alleged gang members are in custody in connection with the murder of an 18-year-old Alhambra man last year.
Pasadena police officials announced the arrests of Steven Fleming, 19, of Pasadena and Scott King, 19, of Palmdale Friday after charges were filed against the men in Pasadena Superior Court.
The men are accused of fatally shooting 18-year-old Marvin Laguan as he talked with a friend on the evening of Aug. 22, 2011 in the 400 block of North Mar Vista Avenue, Pasadena police officials said in a written statement.
"On (Wednesday), Pasadena police detectives and law enforcement personnel from the Unites States Marshals Fugitive Unit, California State Parol and the Glendale Police Department arrested (King and Fleming) for Laguan's murder," the statement said. "Both suspects have gang associations and the assault is believed gang-related."
Laguan himself was also believed to have gang ties, according to Pasadena police Lt. Tracey Ibarra.
In addition to Laguan's killing, the two men were charged with the attempted murder of the friend Laguan was speaking with when the gunman opened fire with six to eight shots, wounding Laguan in the neck, investigators said. The friend was not wounded.
Both men were also accused of the special allegation of committing the crime for the benefit of a criminal street gang, and King was additionally charged with being an ex-felon in possession of a firearm, police said.
Both men entered not guilty pleads to all charges, court officials said.
The arrest in this case is another example of the diligent work conducted by the Pasadena Police Homicide Detectives," Police Chief Philip Sanchez said. "This case was very complex and required a great deal of investigation savvy, patience and determination."
Laguan's killing sparked concerns the in local community, where police held a community meeting in the days following the killing to discuss the investigation.
Sanchez pointed out that Pasadena's homicide detectives have an impressive track record.
The city saw seven homicides last year, police said. And other than the Dec. 27 fatal shooting of an Altadena man in the 100 block of Dearborn Street, which remains under investigation, all have been solved.
"I am most proud that the Pasadena Police Department has such a high solvability rate. This ensures that criminals who pose a threats to the safety of this community are taken off streets," Sanchez said.
King was being held in lieu of $4.1 million bail, and Fleming was being held in lieu of $3.04 million bail, officials said.
Both suspects were ordered to return to Pasadena Superior Court Feb. 29 for a hearing.
PASADENA -- Authorities jailed a local transient Thursday in connection with a series of arson fires targeting debris piles created by recent windstorms.
Juan Boch, 26, is suspected in at least two of nine intentionally set fires lit along the 210 Freeway between Los Robles Boulevard and Fair Oaks Avenue between Dec. 27 and Jan. 5, Pasadena Fire Department spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said.
He was arrested about 9 a.m. Thursday, booked on suspicion of arson and was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail pending his initial court appearance, according to county booking records.
Thanks to the public's vigilance, we were able to track this suspect down," Derderian said.
Witnesses linked Boch to two of the fires, however investigators were investigating him in connection with the other seven, she said.
The fires targeted piles of debris left in the street in the wake of a massive windstorm that littered the streets of Pasadena with tree limbs and shrubbery in early December.
The fires took place during the same time period that alleged serial arsonist Harry Burkhart, 24, of Hollywood is accused of leaving a trail of destruction and fear by lighting more than 50 arson fires in the Hollywood area.
Unlike the Hollywood fires, however, "This individual was sticking to isolated debris in the streets," Derderian said, adding that the fires did not appear to pose a significant public safety threat.
"We're very fortunate that this did not escalate any further," Derderian said.
Because the fire's did not appear to endanger the public, and because of the nature of arsonists, Derderian said fire officials elected not to alert the public about the firebug as they carried out their investigation.
A motive for Boch's alleged arsons was not clear Friday.
CONTRIBUTORS
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| Frank Girardot, Metro Editor for the San Gabriel Valley Newspapers, brings you behind the yellow tape with takes on true crime, cold cases and more. This is also your forum to discuss crime, its impact on your neighborhood and how we cover it. Have any questions or tips? You can leave a comment here or e-mail Frank. |
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Brian Day is the crime reporter for the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper group. E-mail Brian. |
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