Pasadena Woman Arrested After Attacking Two Men With a Sword, Then Barricading Herself in Apartment

A Pasadena woman was arrested Thursday morning after swinging a sword at two men then barricading herself in a nearby apartment, according to police.

Both men were uninjured.

Pasadena Police Lieutenant Matt Campeau said officers responded at 9:23 a.m. Dec. 18 to the 200 block of South Oak Knoll Avenue, where two men reported that a woman approached them with a sword and swung it, nearly slashing them.

The victims, a 65-year-old Pasadena resident and a 49-year-old Los Angeles resident, fled while a witness called police, according to Campeau.

The suspect, identified as Francis Portillo, 41, of Pasadena, retreated to her apartment following the confrontation, Campeau said.

When officers attempted to make contact, Portillo initially refused to exit. After a period of negotiation, she voluntarily came out and was taken into custody without incident, Campeau said.

During the barricade incident, nearby street was closed to through traffic.

A search warrant was issued and executed at the suspect’s residence, where officers recovered the sword used in the assault, according to Campeau.

Portillo was booked on suspicion of felony assault with a deadly weapon, Campeau said.

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