Wanted Suspect Subdued With Taser After Fighting With Police in Pasadena: Officials

Police ultimately used a Taser to subdue a man who they fought with officers when they tried to arrest him on an outstanding warrant late Thursday.

Police had been seeking Pastor Javier Villatoro, 28, of Pasadena on a warrant stemming from a previous allegation of felony evading police, according to Pasadena police officials and Los Angeles County booking records.

Two officers spotted him about 9:15 p.m., standing in a driveway in the 1100 block of Sunset Avenue, Pasadena police Lt. Anthony Russo said.

Villatoro took a “fighting stance” when officers approached, but complied with orders to drop to his knees once an officer displayed a Taser, the lieutenant said.

“As one officer attempted to handcuff him, he spun around, hitting the officer in the face,” he said.

As the suspect and officer continued to fight, the second officer fired his Taser, Russo said. Backup soon arrived and helped wrestle Villatoro into handcuffs.

The officers were treated for minor injuries, he said. Villatoro was taken to a hospital for examination prior to booking.

Details regarding the previous allegation of evading police were not available Friday.

Bail for Villatoro was set at $125,000 pending his initial appearance in Los Angeles County Superior Court, records show.