Editor’s Note: In this report, Pasadena Chief of Police Phillip Sanchez reviews noteworthy incidents which occurred or were concluded in recent weeks in Pasadena.
Critical Incidents:
On January 15, 2015 at about 6:06 a.m., Pasadena Police Officers responded to the area of 576 North Marengo Avenue in regards to a report of shots fired. Officers located evidence of a shooting; however, no victims came forward and there was little suspect information at the time of the incident. The scene was processed and evidence was collected. The case was forwarded to the Robbery/Homicide Unit and assigned to Detective Anthony Russo. The subsequent criminal investigation by Detective Russo and the Homicide and Robbery Detectives revealed the following:
On January 15, in the early morning hours, Kefvon Camp, a known and admitted local gang member, left a location near Garfield Avenue and Parke Street armed with a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol. Camp walked down Marengo Avenue seeking a confrontation with anyone from a specific rival (local) gang. Camp walked to the end of a Marengo complex checking in each doorway for possible human targets. Finding none, he turned around and walked back in the opposite direction when he saw and confronted a known rival gang member in the doorway of 576 North Marengo Avenue. There was a verbal exchange between the two. Camp then pointed his pistol directly at the victim, who retreated into the building. Camp walked about 50 yards up the street and waited in the darkness for nearly 2 ½ minutes.
It was then that a second (known) member from the same rival gang arrived on his bicycle. As the two victims stepped onto the sidewalk, Camp fired 7 rounds at them from the pistol he was holding and fled the scene. Three uninvolved citizens were just south of the location and directly in the line of Camp’s gunfire; fortunately no one was struck.
On March 26, 2016, Pasadena Detectives and Members of the West San Gabriel Valley Anti-Crime Task Force arrested Kefvon Camp and multiple Search Warrants were served. Following his arrest, the Office of the Los Angeles County District Attorney filed the following charges against Camp: Attempted Murder (Victim #1): Attempted Murder (Victim #2); Shooting at an inhabited dwelling; Gang and gun allegations (personal use of a firearm) were also attached to each charge and a Prior Strike Offense alleged. On October 12th, 2016, defendant Kefvon Camp was tried in the Los Angeles County Superior Court in Pasadena.After 7 days of testimony, the jury returned a guilty verdict on two counts of attempted murder with the gang and gun allegations. Camp admitted his prior strike offense. Defendant Camp is facing 55 years to life and will be sentenced on November 15, 2016.
This was a challenging case involving several Pasadena Police Department personnel and outside agency representatives. This investigation and outcome demonstrates the dedication, commitment, and professionalism of the men and woman of the Pasadena Police Department. I would like to commend the following people who assisted in helping secure this conviction: Lt. Terysa Rojas (Homicide Supervisor); Sgt. Rudy Lemos (Homicide Supervisor); Detectives Anthony Russo (IO), David Duran, Dustin Gomez, Tim Bundy, Edgar Sanchez, Veronica Burris, Matt Campeau, Jordan Ling, Alex Torres, Michael Lewis, Paul Granados, Derrick Carter, Brian Murphy, and Victor Ontiveros; SES Officers Milton White, David Garcia, and Jeremiah Weiker; Officers Donovan Jones and Ericka Salinas; Forensic Specialists Katie Sullivan and Christy Fish; Members of the Special Enforcement Section; Members of the Unit formerly known as the West San Gabriel Valley Anti-Crime Task Force; and Probation Officer Leo Paredes.
I am pleased to inform you that the suspects from the Villa Parke & Grandview / Iowa Shootings were all arrested without incident over the past few days.
On October 17, at about 3:30 p.m., Pasadena Police officers responded to a call of shots fired at Villa Parke. The victim (a known local gang member) was in his wheelchair near Garfield Avenue, just south of Parke Street when he was shot at by suspects who were in a Silver Toyota Corolla. The suspects then fled the location. The intended victim was not hit by gunfire. On October 19, at about 6:59 p.m., Pasadena Police officers responded to a call of shots fired in the 100 block of Grandview Street. Officers obtained a description of the suspects, which included information on the vehicle used in the crime (silver Toyota Corolla). Over the next few days, Pasadena Police detectives developed additional information on the Toyota. PPD Detectives, Special Enforcement Section officers, and the police helicopter crew began searching for the car and later found it, which led to the arrest of the suspects. The case also generated two search warrants where more evidence of the shootings was recovered. The case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration.
Like many shootings involving gang members, this case was very complex; however, because of the experience of the involved investigators & their relationships with the public, they were quickly able to identify the involved vehicle and the suspects responsible for the shootings. The case was led by Corporals Edgar Sanchez and Jordan Ling. It was well managed, supervised, and involved several other enforcement teams, including: Air Operations (helicopter); Special Enforcement Section; FAU, detectives and uniformed patrol officers. The investigation underscores the police department’s commitment to public safety and our relentless pursuit of predators in our community.
On October 12, the Pasadena Police Department received information that Trustee Nicholas Atencio Cordova walked away from the East Los Angeles Sheriff’s Station Trustee Program without authorization. Cordova was wearing an ankle bracelet and was known to have relatives in Pasadena. An arrest warrant was subsequently issued for Cordova. On October 24, at about 8:01 a.m., Pasadena Police Officers K. Arbuckle and D. Bisterfeld received a call in the 900 block of North Lake Avenue regarding a suspicious person. On arrival, the officers saw two subjects loitering in the area. As the officers approached the two males, one subject began to walk away from them. The officers ordered the subject to stop; however, he failed to comply with their orders. The subject (later identified as Cordova) continued to evade the officers; however, he was later taken into custody without further incident. At the time of his arrest, Cordova was found to be in possession of methamphetamine. He was transported to the Pasadena jail and booked. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s detectives responded to PPD and took custody of Cordova.
On October 24, at 5:50 a.m., Pasadena Police officers responded to the 1700 block of Corson Street regarding a burglary investigation. On arrival, officers talked with the victim who said she was awakened to find the suspect (Hispanic Male, 19-20, 5’-10,” 200 pounds, white shirt and pinstriped dark pants, wearing gold chains) standing near her bed. The victim said she armed herself with a bat and yelled at the suspect until he left the residence. Officers checked the area; however, they did not find the suspect. Based on our preliminary investigation, it appears the suspect entered the residence through an unlocked door.
On October 24, at about 8:40 p.m., the Pasadena Police Department received a call from the CHP regarding a male subject (Asian Male, 27, Pasadena resident) who attempted to commit suicide by jumping from the Green Street Bridge onto the freeway below. The subject was seriously injured; however, he survived the 50’ descent. He was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment and a mental health evaluation.
On October 25, at about 9:04 p.m., the Pasadena Police Department received a report of an armed carjacking in the 600 block of South Arroyo Parkway. The victim (Sierra Madre resident) said he had been robbed at gunpoint and provided a suspect description to the police emergency operator. Fearing for his safety, the victim said he surrendered his 2015 Audi A8 after the suspected demanded his car. The suspect (Khalil Abdulrahim, Black Male, 21, homeless) then drove away in the victim’s car. About 23 minutes later, PPD officers found the stolen Audi on Holliston Avenue near the campus of Cal Tech. The officers attempted a enforcement stop; however, Abdulrahim failed to yield and crashed into a parked car. After the collision, Abdulrahim exited the Audi and ran into the Cal Tech Campus. Uniformed Officers chased after Abdulrahim; however, he was temporarily able to evade them. The Pasadena Police Air Operations Flight Crew (helicopter) was immediately overhead and helped to quickly contain the area where the suspect was last seen. Cal Tech officials were notified about the rapidly evolving incident and students/staff were asked to shelter in place. Because the containment area was so large, Pasadena Police Department requested additional resources and received assistance from Glendale, Alhambra, South Pasadena, and El Monte Police Departments, along with deputies from the Altadena Sheriff’s station. Abdulrahim was found by a police canine at about 11:52 a.m. During the incident, officers found a handgun, which was consistent with the victim’s initial information. The police department did not receive any reports of injuries associated with this incident.
This was an outstanding collaborative effort by the Pasadena Police Department, SGV law enforcement agencies, and the Cal Tech Security Team and Staff to apprehend a verydangerous armed suspect who clearly demonstrated his willingness to use a firearm in the commission of a felony. Every aspect of this incident was well managed to minimize a lethal force encounter with the Adbulrahim and, equally important, taking great care not to unnecessarily expose students, staff, the public or my officers to additional risk. The incident commander was able to manage the entire incident, in part because of the tactical advantage created by the police helicopter and PPD flight crew. Without the helicopter resource, is likely Adbulrahim would have escaped. Involved personnel included: Lieutenant J. Luna; Sergeant B. Lomeli; Sergeant S. Vandergrift; Sergeant A Bzdigian; Officers J. Reinbold, J. Allan, Van Kim, Goetz, Widger (Canine); T. Brown (Canine); Winkler, M. Griffin, E. Butler; A. Torres; R. Hsu; M. Herrera; R. Gawlik; M. Morgan; J. Calderon; F. Cutkelvin; D. Jones; G. Martinez; and PSS M. White. The Pasadena Police Communication Center and SGV Law Enforcement agencies.
On October 25, at about 5:34 p.m., Pasadena Police officers responded to the 400 block of South Hudson Avenue regarding a mail theft investigation. On arrival, officers learned that the victim (male White, 83) confronted the suspect (female White adult, 5’6,” 190 pounds, black hair, brown eyes) who had apparently stolen mail from the apartment’s mailbox. According to the victim, the suspect forced the mailbox open and removed the mail. A brief struggle over the mail ensured. The suspect then fled on foot and fortunately the victim was not injured. Our investigation is ongoing.
On October 27, at about 1:13 a.m., Pasadena Police officers responded to the 20 block of Chestnut Street regarding a prowler investigation. On arrival, officers talked with the victim who said he saw signs of a “break in” and called the police. PPD officers searched the location and found the suspect (Dejuan Robertson, 42, Black Male) and ordered him to surrender. Robertson complied with the officer’s orders and was arrested without incident. He was transported to the Pasadena jail and booked for burglary.
On October 28, at 3:40 a.m., the Pasadena Police Department received a call from a despondent male who said he wanted to jump of the Colorado Street Bridge. Officers arrived quickly and contacted the subject, (Black Male Adult, San Fernando resident) who was sitting on the edge of the bridge beyond the safety railing. Officers talked with the subject for about 10 minutes and he finally complied with the officer’s orders climbing back over the safety railing and onto the bridge. He was transported to a local hospital for a mental health assessment.
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