Encino Man Arrested for Assault After Allegedly Attacking Good Samaritan in Pasadena

A 34-year-old Encino man was arrested Tuesday evening after allegedly attacking a 67-year-old Pasadena resident who was helping a stranded motorist, according to Pasadena Police Lieutenant Monica Cuellar.

Jonathan Fernandez was taken into custody on assault charges following the incident near the intersection of Nina Street and Veneto Avenue, Cuellar said. Police received the call at 5:32 p.m. Tuesday.

The victim was assisting a witness with her disabled vehicle when Fernandez, who had been chasing another individual, suddenly turned his attention to the Good Samaritan, Cuellar said.

For unknown reasons, Fernandez ran up to the victim, reportedly punched him in the face, pushed him to the ground and began kicking him, according to Cuellar.

The victim’s cries for help caused Fernandez to stop the attack, Cuellar said. The suspect was last seen running south on Nina Street and south on Altadena before additional officers responded and located him in the area.

Fernandez was detained without resistance, Cuellar confirmed.

The motive for both the initial chase and the subsequent attack on the victim remains unclear.

The 67-year-old victim sustained minor injuries including an abrasion to his nose, an injured right thumb and hand, bruising to his forearm and elbow, and a scrape on his left knee, Cuellar reported. He was treated at the scene and did not require hospitalization.

The witness with the disabled vehicle was not injured in the incident, according to Cuellar. Police did not recover any weapons from the suspect.

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call the Pasadena Police at (626) 744-4241 or report information anonymously by contacting “Crime Stoppers” at (800) 222-TIPS (8477) via your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile App on Google Play or the Apple App Store, or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org