The Pasadena Police Department is proud to participate in the “26th Annual National Night Out” (NNO), a unique crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW) and your local Target Stores.  This year’s event has been scheduled for Tuesday, August 4, 2009.  The National Night Out campaign involves citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, business and neighborhood watch groups and local community officials.  Worldwide, over 37 million people participated in National Night Out 2008.
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT is designed to:
• Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness;
• Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs;
• Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and
• Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
Along with the traditional display of outdoor lights and front porch vigils, cities, towns and neighborhoods ‘celebrate’ NNO with a variety of events and activities such as: block parties, cookouts, visits from local police departments, parades, exhibits, flashlight walks and youth programs. NNO has proven to be an effective, inexpensive and enjoyable program to promote neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships in our fight for a safer nation.
Be sure your community group is part of the nation’s largest annual crime/drug prevention event. To plan for members of the Pasadena Police Department to visit your NNO event, Register by July 24 , 2009, by calling your Pasadena Police Department Community Services Section at (626) 744-7659 or send and  e-mail aramos@cityofpasadena.net.

To view the PDF Version of this Press Release click: 26th Annual National Night Out

PASADENA, CA –   Pasadena Police Detectives announced the arrest of a second murder suspect in the killing of David Crosby on May 29, 2009 inside the Atlantis Restaurant in Pasadena.  Charles Wetstone, 19 of Pasadena resident was arrested without incident at an apartment complex in Glendale, California on the evening of June 16, 2009. This follows the arrest of Dwayne Rice who was apprehended on June 11, 2009 in San Bernardino. Murder charges with gang allegations have been filed with the Office of the District Attorney against both suspects. Both are being held without bail.

“The men and women of the Detective Section and the Fugitive Apprehension Unit have done an exemplary job in tracking these suspect down and getting them into custody,” says Chief Melekian.  “The fact that we have these two hardened criminal behind bars so quickly after their brazen act of violence will send the message that we will look for, find and arrest these violent felons.”

The investigation is continuing.

To view the PDF version of this Press Release click Second Murder Suspect Apprehended

PASADENA, CA –   Chief of Police Bernard Melekian announced that effective June 16th, he is officially retired from the United States Coast Guard as a reservist after 26 year of service.   His last command was this past weekend patrolling the San Pedro Harbor.  He retires as a Chief Petty Officer from the Port Security #311Unit based out of San Pedro Harbor and has done regular service duty of search and rescue and harbor patrol.  He has been actively deployed twice to military duty, once to the Middle East in 1991, and again to the Maritime Safety and Security Team 91103 providing Pacific coastal protection from San Diego to Seattle in 2003.  

“It has been an amazing experience,” says Chief Melekian.  “I have had the opportunity to go places I never would have gone and do things I never would have done though service with the USCG.  Most importantly, I have met some of the most amazing people that I never would have met who have and are serving this country admirably. “ Port Security #311 is being deployed this summer and there will be a formal retirement ceremony for the Chief in September when they return.To view the PDF version of this Press Release click Chief of Police Bernard Melekian Retires from Military Reserve Unit

PASADENA, CA –   Speaker of the California State Assembly Karen Bass has appointed Chief of Police Bernard Melekian to serve as her appointee to the California Council on Criminal Justice.  “It is an honor to have been selected by Speaker Bass for this Council,”  says Chief Melekian.  It is an incredible opportunity to have a voice at the State level on all matters or issues that relate to law enforcement and judicial policy and I look forward to the challenge. One of the Council’s most immediate and most critical tasks is the allocation of Federal COP’s funds, which is going to be critical to policing in the state of California.” 

Speaker Bass’ appointment is effective June 1st. 

Chief Melekian is available to questions regarding this service.

To view the PDF version of this Press Release click Chief of Police Appointed by California State Assembly Karen Bass To The California Council on Criminal Justice (CCCJ)

PASADENA, CA – On Sunday June 21, 2009, the Pasadena Police Department will host the Pasadena Police Department’s 8th Annual Classic Car Show sponsored by the Paseo Colorado and the LoJack Corporation.  The event kicks off at 8:00 a.m. on Colorado Boulevard at Garfield Avenue. 

About 100 vintage and hot rod cars will be on display on Colorado Boulevard ranging from 1900-1974.  There will be live music, raffle prizes, food booths and a police helicopter ride auction.  The public is welcome at no charge. 

Anyone wishing to enter a car may do so up to the morning of the event.  Registration forms are available on line at: http://www.cityofpasadena.net/police/PD_CARSHOW/09CarShoFlyr.asp

Entry fee is $20.00 per vehicle.  All proceeds go to benefit the Police Activities League and the Haven House, a home for battered women and their families. “The Pasadena Police Department relies heavily on community programs that help families in crisis and provides prevention programs for youth,” says Chief of Police Bernard Melekian.  “Now more than ever, these nonprofits and others need assistance and we are proud to be able to help them with the funds we raise through this effort.”   Trophies will be awarded in several categories for the best cars.  

For more information contact Lieutenant Tom Pederson at (626) 744-4507 or tpederson@cityofpasadena.net

To view the PDF version of this Press Release click Pasadena Police Department’s 8th Annual Classic Car Show

Pasadena, CA - On June 17, 2009 the Pasadena Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit and Neighborhood Action Team conducted a prostitution sting operation between 7:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on East Colorado Boulevard.

Undercover officers were posed as both prostitutes and customers.  This sting focused on male and female participants and resulted in the arrest of eighteen male adults and one female adult.  The arrests included ten misdemeanors for prostitution and nine misdemeanor arrests for loitering with the intent to commit prostitution.

“In response to resident complaints we are making every effort to abate the problem,” says Chief of Police Barnard Melekian.   “It negatively impacts the quality of life in the area in the surrounding neighborhoods and the local businesses suffer negative economic impacts connected with prostitution.  We intend to conduct these operations randomly and to send the message that if you are in this city to commit an act of prostitution, you will likely get caught and arrested.”    

The maximum penalty for this offense is 6 months incarceration, $1,000 in fines, and the arrestee’s vehicle is impounded.  All arrestees must attend AIDS awareness classes and are tested for the presence of HIV.

 To view the PDV version of this Press Release click Nineteen Arrested in Prostitution Sting

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Dwayne Rice

PASADENA, CA – On May 29, 2009, David Crosby 32, from Lancaster California, was shot and killed inside the Atlantis Restaurant located at 162. N. Sierra Madre Boulevard, Pasadena California.

The investigation revealed that Dwayne Rice 26, from Pasadena, was involved in the murder of Crosby and fled the area.  The motive for the shooting appears to be gang related. 

On June 11, 2009, after an exhaustive investigation, Dwayne Rice was apprehended without incident by Pasadena Police Detectives and members of the Fugitive Apprehension Unit.  Rice was located at a residence in the 2300 block of North Waterman Avenue in the City of San Bernardino.

Rice has an extensive felony criminal history and is on active parole.  Rice has been transported to the Los Angeles County Jail pending his arraignment and is being held without bail.

PASADENA, CA – On May 29, 2009, David Crosby 32, from Lancaster California, was shot and killed inside the Atlantis Restaurant located at 162. N. Sierra Madre Boulevard, Pasadena California.

The investigation revealed that Dwayne Rice 26, from Pasadena, was involved in the murder of Crosby and fled the area.  The motive for the shooting appears to be gang related. 

On June 11, 2009, after an exhaustive investigation, Dwayne Rice was apprehended without incident by Pasadena Police Detectives and members of the Fugitive Apprehension Unit.  Rice was located at a residence in the 2300 block of North Waterman Avenue in the City of San Bernardino.

Rice has an extensive felony criminal history and is on active parole.  Rice has been transported to the Los Angeles County Jail pending his arraignment and is being held without bail.  

To view the PDF Version of this Press Release click  Suspect Arrested For Murder

PASADENA, CA – On Wednesday, April 22, 2009 at 7:54 AM the Pasadena Police Department received several calls of a traffic collision at Orange Grove Boulevard and Martelo Avenue in the City of Pasadena.  Six vehicles were involved in the collision.  Mrs. Robin Shaw-36 and her daughter, Victoria Shaw-9, both of Altadena, died as a result of injuries sustained in the collision.�
Mrs. Shaw was driving her Toyota Sequoia east on Orange Grove Boulevard from Allen Avenue where witnesses reported the vehicle drifting across lanes of traffic.  As Mrs. Shaw’s vehicle continued east on Orange Grove Boulevard witnesses further reported that at Craig Avenue the vehicle veered into the westbound lanes of Orange Grove Boulevard where it collided with a Honda causing a chain reaction collision involving five other vehicles.�
 The police department began an investigation into the cause of the accident.  From witness statements, skid analysis and a detailed analysis of the collision it appears that Mrs. Shaw’s vehicle was traveling between 35 and 45 miles per hour at the time of the collision.  From all accounts, speed was not a sole causal factor in the collision.  A lack of pre-collision skid marks by the Shaw vehicle, coupled with facts gathered during the investigation, led investigators to believe that Mrs. Shaw may have become incapacitated prior to the collision.  An autopsy of Mrs. Shaw revealed she died of blunt force trauma sustained in the collision.  Toxicology reports have been requested by the police department but have not been released by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office at this time.       

To view the PDF version of this Press Release click April Traffic Collision With Fatal Injuries - Status

PASADENA, CA –   The bank robbery suspect who robbed a bank on Monday and then jumped from a five story parking structure after being chased by police officers has been identified as Jason Arnold, 30 years old of Los Angeles.  Mr. Arnold is on active parole and has a prior arrest for robbery.  Pasadena Police Detectives are still investigating the case and are looking to other robberies in the city to determine if he might be a suspect. 

Arnold survived the five story jump and is currently hospitalized in serious condition.  It is anticipated that he will be arrested and booked when he is released from the hospital.

To view the PDF version of this Press Release click suspidentified0602092.pdf

PASADENA, CA –   At about 9:16 a.m. the Pasadena Police Department responded to a call of a bank robbery in the 100 block of South Lake Avenue.  Citizens followed the suspect from the bank providing valuable information as numerous other cell phone calls were received directing officers to the parking structure behind 146 S Lake Avenue. A containment was set up and officers began a floor by floor search of the structure.  At about the mid level of the structure the suspect appeared from hiding behind a parked vehicle and began to run to the top of the parking structure which is approximately 5 stories.  Before officers could reach him, the suspect jumped from the structure landing on the concrete below.

Paramedics were called and the suspect was taken to a local hospital with multiple fractures in critical condition. 

The FBI was notified as is the case with all bank robberies.  It is yet to be determined if this suspect is responsible for any other bank robberies.  The suspect’s identity has not yet been released pending confirmation and notification of next of kin.

To view the PDF version of this Press Release click robberysusjumps0601091.pdf