Grinch Steals From Wheelchair-bound Homeless Man on Christmas Eve

A homeless man in a wheelchair was robbed at knifepoint in Pasadena on Christmas Eve, police said.

The incident occurred at 1:22 p.m. on Tuesday near the intersection of Los Robles Avenue and Villa Street, according to Pasadena Police Lieutenant Matt Campeau.

The 64-year-old homeless man was traveling in his wheelchair along Orange Grove Boulevard when he was approached by a suspect who demanded his backpack, Campeau said.

When the victim refused, the suspect brandished a knife with a five-inch blade and demanded a portable radio attached to the wheelchair.

The suspect forcefully took the radio from the victim and fled,” Campeau said. The victim then attempted to give chase in his wheelchair.

A passerby witnessed the altercation and called the police. Responding officers quickly located and detained a suspect matching the description provided, said Campeau.

The suspect, identified as Carlos Hernandez, 57, of Pasadena, was allegedly positively identified and arrested for armed robbery, Campeau said.

Officers reportedly recovered the stolen radio and the knife used in the robbery, Campeau confirmed.

Campeau reported that police discovered that Hernandez is also homeless.

No injuries were reported in the incident.

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