Man Arrested After Metal Pole Attack Outside 7-Eleven

A 31-year-old man was arrested Friday morning after allegedly attacking a man with a metal pole outside a convenience store, Pasadena Police Lieutenant Anthony Russo said.

Russo said that officers responded at 8:57 a.m. to the 600 block of North Lake Avenue, where a 42-year-old El Monte man said he was assaulted while cleaning a commercial parking lot.

Russo identified the suspect as Draque Hunter, who was taken into custody at the scene.

According to Russo, the victim asked Hunter, described as a local transient, to leave the property. Hunter refused, became irate, and retrieved a two-foot metal pole from his belongings. He raised the pole above his head in a threatening manner and challenged the victim to fight.

The victim retreated, but Russo said Hunter chased him and attempted to strike him in the head one to two times. The victim fled into a 7-Eleven store for help, where Hunter followed and swung the pole again, missing the victim.

A store employee confronted Hunter, who then left the business. Officers detained Hunter immediately outside the business.

Russo confirmed that no injuries were reported. The weapon was recovered at the scene, and Hunter was booked into jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.

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