Court Hearing Monday For Man Charged In Pasadena Metro Stabbing

A preliminary hearing date is set to be scheduled Monday for a man accused of stabbing a fellow passenger at a Metro rail station in Pasadena.

Antonio Olivera, 37, faces one felony count each of assault with a deadly weapon and assault by means of force likely to cause great bodily injury. The charges stem from an April 17 attack at the Sierra Madre Villa station.

The incident occurred around 7:45 a.m. on the pedestrian bridge leading to the station, Pasadena Public Information Officer Lisa Derderian said shortly after the attack.

The victim, a man in his 30s, suffered multiple stab wounds to his upper body and was hospitalized in critical but stable condition.

Authorities said an altercation started in the parking lot and continued onto the bridge. The two men were strangers, police said.

Olivera, who was wearing a security guard uniform but was not employed by Metro, was using the transit system when the attack happened, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Sheriff’s deputies arrested Olivera moments after the stabbing. He was initially booked on suspicion of attempted murder at Temple Sheriff’s Station before prosecutors filed assault charges. He has remained in custody since his arrest.

The preliminary hearing will determine if sufficient evidence exists to proceed to trial. The Sheriff’s Department is leading the investigation with assistance from Metro and Pasadena police.

Metro operated bus shuttles between the Allen and Arcadia stations while authorities processed the crime scene.

The stabbing follows a similar attack on March 18 at the Universal/Studio City Metro station.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Transit Services Bureau at 323-563-5000 or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.