Pasadena Man Arrested After Attempting to Ram Police Vehicle

A 44-year-old Pasadena man was arrested Sunday night for allegedly driving under the influence after attempting to ram a police vehicle with an officer inside, according to Pasadena Police Lieutenant Monica Cuellar.

Maurice Wardlaw was taken into custody at 9:58 p.m. near Lincoln Avenue and Villa Street following what police classified as an assault with a deadly weapon incident, Cuellar said. The suspect was charged with assault on a peace officer and driving under the influence.

The confrontation began when officers tried to stop Wardlaw’s vehicle after he reportedly made an unsafe turn and collided with a parked vehicle, according to Cuellar.

When officers moved to prevent the suspect from leaving the scene, Wardlaw allegedly put his vehicle in reverse and attempted to push the police unit out of the way with an officer still seated inside, Cuellar reported.

“The officers gave the suspects orders to stop the car and he wouldn’t comply,” Cuellar said.

Officers became concerned when Wardlaw allegedly kept reaching behind the passenger seat, fearing he might be reaching for a weapon, Cuellar added.

Police tried to use a Taser during the incident, but Cuellar noted the device did not function properly.

Wardlaw eventually complied with officers’ commands.

No officers were injured during the confrontation, and no medical treatment was required for the suspect since the Taser did not deploy properly, according to Cuellar.

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