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Pasadena Blotter Sept. 12-25 2015
News Sep 30, 2015
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September 12
At approximately 6:28 p.m., a mother was pushing her 11-month old daughter in a stroller on Marengo Avenue near Union Street in Pasadena when a privately owned drone (quadcopter) crashed to the ground near them. The drone shattered, sending shrapnel flying in the direction of the child’s face, her head, and the mother’s legs. The debris caused a large contusion to the child’s forehead and an approximate ¼” laceration to the side of her head. She was transported to Huntington Memorial Hospital where she was treated and released. The mother (female Hispanic, 31, Los Angeles resident) was not injured. Pasadena Police officers responded and discovered the owner of the drone standing near the crash site. The owner (male adult, 24) explained that he was attending an event in front of City Hall and flying the drone overhead when he lost control and it went down at Marengo Avenue & Union Street. He immediately responded to the intersection and discovered the damaged drone and the injured child. He remained on scene to wait for law enforcement. This incident was documented as an “Other Accident” and forwarded to the Flight Standards District Office in Van Nuys for review to determine if the operator violated Federal Aviation Regulation 91.13 (Careless or reckless operation of an unmanned aircraft). The Pasadena Police Department would like to remind operators of unmanned aerial systems (otherwise known as drones) that they are considered aircraft and subject the FAA regulations.
September 16
At about 12:17 p.m., Pasadena Police officers responded to the 500 block of North Sunnyslope Avenue regarding a residential burglary. Prior to the officer’s arrival, a witness reported that the suspects fled the location in a white Jeep Cherokee. Pasadena Police Pilot TJ Gonzales and TFO Sean Porter (Pasadena Air Ops) observed the vehicle in the area of Sierra Madre Boulevard and the 210 Freeway. Officers were then directed to the suspect’s location. PPD officers conducted an enforcement stop and detained the suspects without incident. Our investigation revealed that the suspects were in possession of stolen property which had been taken from the Sunnyslope Burglary. The three burglary suspects were all from Los Angeles.
September 17
Pasadena Police officers assigned to the department’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU), along with State Agents from the Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC), conducted an enforcement program in Old Pasadena. The detail focused their efforts on licensed alcohol establishments in the business districts. During the operation, Officers observed underage drinking, a bartender selling alcohol bottles to adults who in turn furnished them to minors, and bouncers who failed to check identification of customers. Officers also detained a club promoter in the 100 block of east Colorado Boulevard who had a warrant for his arrest. He was also found to be in possession of cocaine. The three arrests were made during the evening and ABC will conduct administrative investigations.
September 22
At about 9:47 p.m., Pasadena Police officers responded to the 1500 block of Locust Street regarding a kidnapping investigation. On arrival, officers learned that the suspect and the victim were in a domestic relationship and had a dispute regarding a family member. During the altercation, the suspect attempted to physically force the victim into a vehicle. Other family members intervened and called the police. PPD officers arrested the suspect without incident and he was transported to the Pasadena jail.
September 23
On May 25, 2010, at about 10:21 p.m., two young men were shot without warning or provocation as they drove on Zanja Street near Lincoln Avenue. The suspect, Omar Wright, maliciously shot the victims when he perceived them as a threat. The victim driver survived his gunshot wound. Tragically, however, the passenger (Emilio Landaverde) did not. Both victims were shot in the head and neither were gang members. The homicide investigation was assigned to Detective Keith Gomez who, along with several other investigators and officers, identified Wright as the shooter (suspect). Wright was arrested without incident and the case was presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The District Attorney filed several felony charges against Wright including homicide and attempted homicide.
In September 2015, Wright started his trial in Superior Court. On Sept. 23, 2015, after approximately 40 minutes, a Burbank jury convicted Omar Wright of the following charges:
• 1st Degree Murder
• 1st Degree Attempted Murder
• Felon in Possession of a Firearm
• Shooting at an Occupied Motor Vehicle
• Firearm Enhancements
• Gang Enhancements.
Omar Wright will be sentenced in November 2015, and may face up to 100 years to life in State Prison. Wright is a known gang member. Retired Detective Grant Curry, Retired Officer Kevin Okamoto and others assisted in the investigation.
September 25
Pasadena Police officers responded to the vicinity of La Pintoresca Park regarding a call of shots fired. A witness reported that several males were seen running from the area of the park towards Kings Villages. Responding officers located ballistic evidence in the 1400 block of Raymond Avenue. Fortunately, no one was injured by the gunfire.
