Pasadena Man Arrested for Violent Attack on Mother of His Children as Youngsters Sit in Nearby Room

A Pasadena man allegedly unleashed a violent attack on a woman with whom he had four children, smashed up the interior of the victim’s apartment then stole her car and fled early Monday morning. He was located and arrested later in the morning.

Pasadena police Lt. Pete Hettema said the man attacked the woman while he was supposed to be babysitting three young relatives, aged 3 to 11, whom he brought with him.

The suspect, identified as Ismael Hernandez, 29, of Pasadena, went to the victim’s apartment in the 100 block of Sierra Bonita because he was upset that she had been out partying.

At one point, Hettema said Hernandez is reported to have pushed the victim down to the floor and dragged her by her hair away from the children’s view.

Hernandez then reportedly struck the victim approximately five times on the face, injuring her, before producing a four-inch knife which he held to her face while he threatened to kill her.

Hettema said Hernandez grazed the victim once on the chin, causing a one-inch laceration.

Hernandez allegedly then took a stool and began to smash the interior of the victim’s apartment, damaging two fish tanks and killing all the fish.

After that, Hettema said Hernandez took the victim’s phone and car keys, collected his nieces and nephew, and drove away in the victim’s newer model black Nissan SUV.

Police found Hernandez around 6 a.m. and arrested him.

Online booking records show Hernandez is being held at the Pasadena City Jail in lieu of $536,000 bond.