Pasadena Police Arrest Suspect With Sledgehammer in Hot Prowl Burglary

A 43-year-old West Covina man was arrested Tuesday morning following a hot prowl burglary in the 200 block of East Orange Grove Boulevard, according to Pasadena Police Lieutenant Monica Cuellar.

The suspect, identified police as Adrian Heredia, was reportedly seen by witnesses attempting to break into multiple apartments around 7:21 a.m.

Residents flagged down a responding officer and reported that Heredia had successfully entered one unit but was forcibly removed with the assistance of neighbors, Cuellar said.

As the officer approached the scene, Heredia allegedly retrieved a sledgehammer from the back of a nearby truck and advanced toward the victim’s apartment despite commands to drop the weapon. The officer then deployed a Taser, subduing Heredia without injuries to either the officer or victim, according to Cuellar.

Heredia was transported to Huntington Hospital for removal of Taser probes and medical clearance. He was later booked into Pasadena jail for burglary and resisting arrest, Cuellar said .

The victim, a woman in her 60s and a Pasadena resident, did not know the suspect, Cuellar noted. No additional weapons or drugs were found on Heredia at the time of arrest, and his motive remains unclear.

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