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PASADENA -- Starting Friday, Pasadena Police Department volunteers will be out in force at the city's busiest shopping centers, authorities said.
The volunteers will be keeping police visibility high and working to cut down on crime at local shopping centers throughout the busy holiday shopping season, Pasadena police said in a written statement.
Incidents of break-ins and other crimes tend to increase during the holiday season, police said.
With the volunteers helping regular officers during their annual "Safe Shopping Detail," police said they hope to reduce the number of opportunities for thieves in Pasadena.
The volunteers will be keeping police visibility high and working to cut down on crime at local shopping centers throughout the busy holiday shopping season, Pasadena police said in a written statement.
Incidents of break-ins and other crimes tend to increase during the holiday season, police said.
With the volunteers helping regular officers during their annual "Safe Shopping Detail," police said they hope to reduce the number of opportunities for thieves in Pasadena.
PASADENA -- A fire Wednesday displaced a mother and daughter from their home the night before Thanksgiving, officials said.
The blaze was first reported about 4:20 p.m. at a two-story house in the 700 block of Prospect Boulevard, Pasadena Fire Department spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said.
Firefighters extinguished the fire in about 10 minutes, she said.
The fire caused about $70,000 worth of damage to the house and its contents, Derderian added.
The homes two residents -- a mother and daughter -- were not home during the fire, she said.
Derderian said the displaced residents told officials they had a place to stay while their house was being repaired.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation, she said.
The blaze was first reported about 4:20 p.m. at a two-story house in the 700 block of Prospect Boulevard, Pasadena Fire Department spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said.
Firefighters extinguished the fire in about 10 minutes, she said.
The fire caused about $70,000 worth of damage to the house and its contents, Derderian added.
The homes two residents -- a mother and daughter -- were not home during the fire, she said.
Derderian said the displaced residents told officials they had a place to stay while their house was being repaired.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation, she said.
A Pasadena man accused of killing his wife with a hatchet and trying to kill her son earlier this year received a December date for his preliminary hearing Wednesday.
The preliminary hearing for James Che Ming Lu, 85, was scheduled for Dec. 9 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, court officials said.
Prosecutors allege Lu used a hatchet to kill his wife, 55-year-old Michelle Lu, on the morning of July 28 at their home in the 100 block of Rosemead Boulevard in an unincorporated county area near Pasadena.
He then called sheriff's deputies to inform them of the crime, Detective Marcelo Quintero of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau said.
Following the attack, "Mr. Lu called the authorities... and told them essentially that he had injured his wife," Quintero said.
When deputies arrived, they found Michelle Lu suffering from multiple stab wounds apparently inflicted by a hatchet, officials said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
A hatchet believed to be the murder weapon was recovered.
James Lu is also charged with the attempted murder of his wife's son, 32-year-old Ji Ma Zeng, who Quintero said managed to take the hatchet away from Lu after the alleged slaying.
"The son did deflect a blow from the ax and was able to disarm (James Lu)," the detective said.
Zeng fled to a neighbor's house, Quintero said, as James Lu called the sheriff's Temple Station to report the incident.
A judge issued a restraining order in late July, ordering James Lu to stay 500 feet away from Zeng.
Outside of domestic violence, a specific motive in the suspected killing has not been established, Quintero said.
"We know they were arguing," he said. "There was allegedly some fighting."
According to sheriff's booking records, James Lu was being held in lieu of $2 million bail.
He faces life in prison if convicted.
The preliminary hearing for James Che Ming Lu, 85, was scheduled for Dec. 9 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, court officials said.
Prosecutors allege Lu used a hatchet to kill his wife, 55-year-old Michelle Lu, on the morning of July 28 at their home in the 100 block of Rosemead Boulevard in an unincorporated county area near Pasadena.
He then called sheriff's deputies to inform them of the crime, Detective Marcelo Quintero of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau said.
Following the attack, "Mr. Lu called the authorities... and told them essentially that he had injured his wife," Quintero said.
When deputies arrived, they found Michelle Lu suffering from multiple stab wounds apparently inflicted by a hatchet, officials said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
A hatchet believed to be the murder weapon was recovered.
James Lu is also charged with the attempted murder of his wife's son, 32-year-old Ji Ma Zeng, who Quintero said managed to take the hatchet away from Lu after the alleged slaying.
"The son did deflect a blow from the ax and was able to disarm (James Lu)," the detective said.
Zeng fled to a neighbor's house, Quintero said, as James Lu called the sheriff's Temple Station to report the incident.
A judge issued a restraining order in late July, ordering James Lu to stay 500 feet away from Zeng.
Outside of domestic violence, a specific motive in the suspected killing has not been established, Quintero said.
"We know they were arguing," he said. "There was allegedly some fighting."
According to sheriff's booking records, James Lu was being held in lieu of $2 million bail.
He faces life in prison if convicted.
PASADENA -- A man robbed a check cashing business at gunpoint Friday in an unincorporated county area near Pasadena, authorities said.
The crime occurred about noon at Check Into Cash, 3683 E. Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Mark Glatt said.
The robber, described as a white man wearing a navy blue hooded sweat shirt and tan cargo shorts, entered the business with a small-caliber handgun, the lieutenant said.
After ordering an employee to the ground, he helped himself to about $1,500 from the cash registers, Glatt said.
A man was briefly detained in the area, but was determined not to be the robber, he said.
It was not known if a getaway car was involved.
The crime occurred about noon at Check Into Cash, 3683 E. Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Mark Glatt said.
The robber, described as a white man wearing a navy blue hooded sweat shirt and tan cargo shorts, entered the business with a small-caliber handgun, the lieutenant said.
After ordering an employee to the ground, he helped himself to about $1,500 from the cash registers, Glatt said.
A man was briefly detained in the area, but was determined not to be the robber, he said.
It was not known if a getaway car was involved.
PASADENA -- Police arrested a young burglary suspect Thursday after a neighbor reported the break-in to police, authorities said.
A 17-year-old Pasadena boy, whose name was not released due to his age, was booked on suspicion of burglary, Pasadena police Lt. Keith Jones said.
The incident began shortly after 7 p.m. in the 1200 block of N. Summit Avenue when a resident phoned police to report four men had just kicked in the door of a neighbor's home and remained on the phone with a dispatcher to let police know the suspects were still inside as officers responded to the home, the lieutenant said.
A police helicopter arrived at the scene first and saw the four burglars flee the home and run northbound, Jones said.
Officers set up a search perimeter and found the teenage suspect, he said, however the other three were not found.
Electronics including a laptop computer and a 22-inch flat-screen TV were found apparently discarded by the suspects in a nearby yard, Jones said. It appeared the burglars were in the process of disconnecting a larger TV in the home when the police helicopter arrived.
Jones said the arrest was primarily due to the help of the resident who reported the crime.
"The capture of the suspect, the recovery of the loss would not have occurred without the help of the citizen who called police," he said.
A 17-year-old Pasadena boy, whose name was not released due to his age, was booked on suspicion of burglary, Pasadena police Lt. Keith Jones said.
The incident began shortly after 7 p.m. in the 1200 block of N. Summit Avenue when a resident phoned police to report four men had just kicked in the door of a neighbor's home and remained on the phone with a dispatcher to let police know the suspects were still inside as officers responded to the home, the lieutenant said.
A police helicopter arrived at the scene first and saw the four burglars flee the home and run northbound, Jones said.
Officers set up a search perimeter and found the teenage suspect, he said, however the other three were not found.
Electronics including a laptop computer and a 22-inch flat-screen TV were found apparently discarded by the suspects in a nearby yard, Jones said. It appeared the burglars were in the process of disconnecting a larger TV in the home when the police helicopter arrived.
Jones said the arrest was primarily due to the help of the resident who reported the crime.
"The capture of the suspect, the recovery of the loss would not have occurred without the help of the citizen who called police," he said.
PASADENA -- Police arrested a burglary suspect Tuesday after a Pasadena man reported he was acting suspiciously in front of his home, police said.
Randal Ruiz, a 44-year-old transient, was booked on suspicion of burglary and a parole violation, Pasadena police Lt. Keith Jones said.
A resident of the 2300 block of Woodlyn Road noticed his doorknob was jiggling about 9:40 a.m., the lieutenant said.
The resident looked through a glass partition in his door and saw Ruiz standing there, he said. When the resident asked what he was doing, Ruiz jumped onto a bicycle on rode away.
Thinking the behavior suspicious, Jones said, the resident called police and have them a description of the man.
After finding Ruiz riding a bike in the area, he added, officials discovered he was carrying a laptop computer officials believe may have been stolen in an Altadena burglary earlier that day, as well as a backpack full of burglary tools such as bolt cutters, screwdrivers and a flashlight.
Ruiz was then arrested, officials said.
According to sheriff's booking records, Ruiz was being held in the Pasadena Police Department jail. No information was available regarding his initial court appearance.
Randal Ruiz, a 44-year-old transient, was booked on suspicion of burglary and a parole violation, Pasadena police Lt. Keith Jones said.
A resident of the 2300 block of Woodlyn Road noticed his doorknob was jiggling about 9:40 a.m., the lieutenant said.
The resident looked through a glass partition in his door and saw Ruiz standing there, he said. When the resident asked what he was doing, Ruiz jumped onto a bicycle on rode away.
Thinking the behavior suspicious, Jones said, the resident called police and have them a description of the man.
After finding Ruiz riding a bike in the area, he added, officials discovered he was carrying a laptop computer officials believe may have been stolen in an Altadena burglary earlier that day, as well as a backpack full of burglary tools such as bolt cutters, screwdrivers and a flashlight.
Ruiz was then arrested, officials said.
According to sheriff's booking records, Ruiz was being held in the Pasadena Police Department jail. No information was available regarding his initial court appearance.
PASADENA -- A man was robbed of his wallet late Wednesday by two men armed with a handgun and a knife, police said.
A man was walking to an apartment building in the 1300 block of Summit Avenue from his car and talking on a cell phone about 10:30 p.m. when he was approached by the robbers, Pasadena police Lt. Chris Russ said.
Brandishing a knife and a gun, the robbers demanded the man's property, the lieutenant said.
The robbers fled with the man's wallet and about $250 in cash, Russ said.
Both robbers were described as black men in their 20s, he said. One was about 5 feet 7 inches tall, 180 pounds, and wore black clothes and a black bandana over his face.
The other robber was about 6 feet tall, 160 pounds, wearing a black baseball cap, a black t-shirt and blue jeans, Russ said.
A man was walking to an apartment building in the 1300 block of Summit Avenue from his car and talking on a cell phone about 10:30 p.m. when he was approached by the robbers, Pasadena police Lt. Chris Russ said.
Brandishing a knife and a gun, the robbers demanded the man's property, the lieutenant said.
The robbers fled with the man's wallet and about $250 in cash, Russ said.
Both robbers were described as black men in their 20s, he said. One was about 5 feet 7 inches tall, 180 pounds, and wore black clothes and a black bandana over his face.
The other robber was about 6 feet tall, 160 pounds, wearing a black baseball cap, a black t-shirt and blue jeans, Russ said.
From reporter Dan Abendschein:
The two police officers who shot and killed 38-year-old Pasadena resident Leroy Barnes in February will not face any criminal charges from the county, officials said Wednesday.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office concluded its investigation Wednesday and notified the Pasadena Police Department of that finding, writing that the officers acted in "lawful self-defense."
"This analysis must also allow for the fact that officers are often forced to make split-second judgments, about the amount of force that is necessary, in circumstances that are tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving," said the report's conclusion. Barnes, a parolee, was shot 11 times, including seven times in the back, after officers pulled over a car driven by Emeka Edwards on Mentone Avenue on Feb. 19. Barnes was a passenger.
This from the PCC Courier:
A female student was assaulted Tuesday night on Tennis Hill Drive between 8:40 and 8:50 p.m.
According to PCC Chief of Police Peter Michael, the woman was walking down Tennis Hill Drive when she thought she heard footsteps from behind her. When she turned around she saw a man she described as about 5 feet 6 inches, between 160 and 200 pounds and wearing a hooded sweatshirt, police said.
The woman described the attacker as having a dark complexion with a goatee and with his hood on. The man allegedly grabbed the woman and pushed her against a wall. While holding the victim, the attacker pulled out a box cutter, which he held to her neck and told her not to yell, police said.
The man ran his hand down her side onto her buttocks. The woman then pushed the man away at which point a struggle ensued, said police.
During the struggle, the woman's face hit the concrete wall and she sustained a scrape on her cheek, said police. Also during the struggle, the man cut the woman with the box cutter on the left side of her chest, between the chest and shoulder area.
The woman managed to free herself and ran eastbound towards the center of campus. Campus police were contacted and a report of the incident was taken.
PASADENA -- Police jailed a man Sunday on suspicion of badly beating his sister during an argument Sunday.
Jose Hernandez, 41, of Pasadena was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, Pasadena police Lt. Keith Jones said.
The incident occurred just after 4:30 p.m. at Hernandez's home in the 200 block of Clinton Street, the lieutenant said.
Fire departments responded to a medical call at the home and found a woman in her 30s suffering from facial and other injuries after being beaten, Jones said. She was hospitalized in stable condition.
Firefighters notified police of the apparent assault, and officers identified her brother as a suspect in the attack, he said.
Hernandez had left the scene on foot when police arrived, Jones said, but police found him at a friend's home about half a mile away near Raymond Avenue and Esther Street and arrested him without further incident.
Jones added that police have had to intervene at least once before in an argument between the brother and sister, though he was not aware of any previous physical fights.
According to sheriff's booking records, Hernandez was being held in lieu of $30,000 bail.
Jose Hernandez, 41, of Pasadena was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, Pasadena police Lt. Keith Jones said.
The incident occurred just after 4:30 p.m. at Hernandez's home in the 200 block of Clinton Street, the lieutenant said.
Fire departments responded to a medical call at the home and found a woman in her 30s suffering from facial and other injuries after being beaten, Jones said. She was hospitalized in stable condition.
Firefighters notified police of the apparent assault, and officers identified her brother as a suspect in the attack, he said.
Hernandez had left the scene on foot when police arrived, Jones said, but police found him at a friend's home about half a mile away near Raymond Avenue and Esther Street and arrested him without further incident.
Jones added that police have had to intervene at least once before in an argument between the brother and sister, though he was not aware of any previous physical fights.
According to sheriff's booking records, Hernandez was being held in lieu of $30,000 bail.
PASADENA -- A judge dismissed two charges of murder Friday for a big rig driver involved in a crash that killed a father and daughter and injured 10 others, authorities said.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Lisa Lench dismissed the murder charges in Pasadena Superior Court, against the objection of prosecutors, Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office spokeswoman Jane Robison said.
The ruling was made because the judge determined there was not sufficient evidence indicating Costa displayed "implied malice," or intent to kill, she said.
"Now, prosecutors are considering whether to appeal the judges decision," Robison said. That decision will likely be announced at the next hearing in the case on Oct. 20.
Costa still faces five counts in connection with the April first crash at Angeles Crest Highway and the Foothill Boulevard, officials said.
Those include two counts of vehicular manslaughter for the deaths of Angel Jorge Posca, 58, and his 12-year-old daughter Angelina Posca, both of Palmdale, who died at the scene of the crash, Robison said, as well as three counts of reckless driving causing injury.
Costa's attorney, Steve Meister, said his client was relieved at the news, though he is he is "somber" and "very much aware of the Posca family and the others who were injured in this accident."
Meister said murder charges should never have been filed against his client in the first place.
"I applaud the court's ruling," he said. "The DA's murder charge in this case was inappropriate and overstepping."
He added that Costa did not have a bad driving record, was not intoxicated and was not knowingly disregarding a great risk to others.
Friday's ruling, he said, serves as an "appropriate check" of the District Attorney's Office.
Robison said the the DA's Office believes murder charges are appropriate because Costa's disregard of public safety amounted to implied malice, as he ignored warning signs and a verbal warning from an off-duty firefighter.
Prior to the crash, Costa was flagged down and warned by an off-duty firefighter that his brakes were smoking, Robison said, and told of the steep grade on Angeles Crest Highway.
Meister said that the off-duty firefighter did not identify himself as an official.
"Most importantly, he never told (Costa) not to drive Angeles Crest," he said.
He added that the firefighter even gave Costa directions to Angeles Crest Highway.
The off-duty firefighter only warned Costa of an upcoming tunnel he thought the car-carrying truck may not fit through, Meister said, and told him to be careful.
Costa remained jailed Friday in lieu of $600,000 bail, according to sheriff's booking records.
Meister said he will seek to have that reduced at the next hearing.
The crash occurred when Costa's big rig apparently lost its brakes while descending a hill on Angeles Crest Highway and careened across Foothill Boulevard.
The truck struck several cars, including the compact car occupied by the Posca's, before crashing into the Flintridge Bookstore and Coffeehouse.
In response to the crash, a bill was passed through the state legislature permanently ban all big rig traffic on Angeles Crest Highway.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Lisa Lench dismissed the murder charges in Pasadena Superior Court, against the objection of prosecutors, Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office spokeswoman Jane Robison said.
The ruling was made because the judge determined there was not sufficient evidence indicating Costa displayed "implied malice," or intent to kill, she said.
"Now, prosecutors are considering whether to appeal the judges decision," Robison said. That decision will likely be announced at the next hearing in the case on Oct. 20.
Costa still faces five counts in connection with the April first crash at Angeles Crest Highway and the Foothill Boulevard, officials said.
Those include two counts of vehicular manslaughter for the deaths of Angel Jorge Posca, 58, and his 12-year-old daughter Angelina Posca, both of Palmdale, who died at the scene of the crash, Robison said, as well as three counts of reckless driving causing injury.
Costa's attorney, Steve Meister, said his client was relieved at the news, though he is he is "somber" and "very much aware of the Posca family and the others who were injured in this accident."
Meister said murder charges should never have been filed against his client in the first place.
"I applaud the court's ruling," he said. "The DA's murder charge in this case was inappropriate and overstepping."
He added that Costa did not have a bad driving record, was not intoxicated and was not knowingly disregarding a great risk to others.
Friday's ruling, he said, serves as an "appropriate check" of the District Attorney's Office.
Robison said the the DA's Office believes murder charges are appropriate because Costa's disregard of public safety amounted to implied malice, as he ignored warning signs and a verbal warning from an off-duty firefighter.
Prior to the crash, Costa was flagged down and warned by an off-duty firefighter that his brakes were smoking, Robison said, and told of the steep grade on Angeles Crest Highway.
Meister said that the off-duty firefighter did not identify himself as an official.
"Most importantly, he never told (Costa) not to drive Angeles Crest," he said.
He added that the firefighter even gave Costa directions to Angeles Crest Highway.
The off-duty firefighter only warned Costa of an upcoming tunnel he thought the car-carrying truck may not fit through, Meister said, and told him to be careful.
Costa remained jailed Friday in lieu of $600,000 bail, according to sheriff's booking records.
Meister said he will seek to have that reduced at the next hearing.
The crash occurred when Costa's big rig apparently lost its brakes while descending a hill on Angeles Crest Highway and careened across Foothill Boulevard.
The truck struck several cars, including the compact car occupied by the Posca's, before crashing into the Flintridge Bookstore and Coffeehouse.
In response to the crash, a bill was passed through the state legislature permanently ban all big rig traffic on Angeles Crest Highway.
PASADENA -- A fire caused about $350,000 worth of damage to a Pasadena home Sunday, authorities said.
The blaze was reported just after 4:30 p.m. at a large, two-story home in the 300 block of Manford Way, Pasadena Fire Department spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said.
A man and woman were displaced in the fire, but were going to find temporary lodgings with friends or relatives, Derderian said.
Firefighters encountered flames in the walls and attic of the home upon arrival, she said.
About 28 firefighters extinguished the fire in about 20 minutes, she added.
Two cats were missing after the fire, Derderian said, however officials believe they escaped the blaze.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
PHOTO courtesy of the Pasadena Fire Department
*UPDATED
PASADENA -- A toddler was hospitalized Friday after falling from a second-floor window, authorities said.
The child ultimately was detemined to have suffered only minor injuries in the fall, Pasadena police Lt. Tom Delgado said.
"The baby's doing very well," he said.
The incident occurred about 5 p.m. at a home in the 500 block of North Mar Vista Avenue, Pasadena police Lt. Rodney Wallace said.
The 2-year-old girl appeared to be conscious when taken to the hospital, he said.
Police investigated the circumstances of the fall and determined the incident to be accidental, Delgado said.
PASADENA -- Police have arrested a housekeeper they say stole iPods, gift cards, electronic toys and other property from homes she worked in during the past 10 years in Pasadena and Los Angeles, officials said Thursday.
Lesley Rugama, 37, of Canoga Park is facing several counts of burglary, and prosecutors could file more charges as the result of a continuing investigation into the thefts, Pasadena Police Department officials said.
Many of the victims were unaware that their "missing" property had actually been stolen. Detectives searched Rugama's home and recovered numerous items believed stolen from the homes she worked in over the past decade. Some of the items have already been returned to their owners. But many more items have yet to be identified by their owners and returned, police said.
Police said Rugama gained the trust of her employees then stole from them.
Authorities asked that anyone who has employed Rugama as a housekeeper call Detective Sgt. Mari Sell, (626) 744-3818.
Lesley Rugama, 37, of Canoga Park is facing several counts of burglary, and prosecutors could file more charges as the result of a continuing investigation into the thefts, Pasadena Police Department officials said.
Many of the victims were unaware that their "missing" property had actually been stolen. Detectives searched Rugama's home and recovered numerous items believed stolen from the homes she worked in over the past decade. Some of the items have already been returned to their owners. But many more items have yet to be identified by their owners and returned, police said.
Police said Rugama gained the trust of her employees then stole from them.
Authorities asked that anyone who has employed Rugama as a housekeeper call Detective Sgt. Mari Sell, (626) 744-3818.
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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