Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALHAMBRA - Detectives on a stakeout caught a driver who eluded South Pasadena and Alhambra officers multiple times.

Lawrence White, a 28-year-old Pasadena resident, was caught in that city March 13 after detectives learned his location and waited for the suspect to reveal himself, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

White is accused of evading South Pasadena Police officers who attempted to perform a traffic stop on him March 1, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court records.

During the South Pasadena pursuit, White is accused of striking another vehicle at Huntington Drive in Fremont Avenue. He continued to flee and allegedly ran a red light, according to the Alhambra Police department.

Alhambra Police officers located the suspect on three separate occasions and also attempted to stop him, but he continued to flee at high rates of speed, failing to stop at multiple stop signs and deliberately disregarded the safety of others through his reckless driving, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

Once White was detained, officers searched his vehicle and found a loaded firearm in the glove compartment, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

White was officially charged in court with two counts of felony evading a police officer, one count of misdemeanor hit and run causing property damage and carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle, according to Superior Court records.

White is being held in Lou of $150,000 bail at the twin towers correctional facility in Los Angeles. He made an initial appearance on March 15 and is scheduled to reappear in Alhambra, Superior Court April 2.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALHAMBRA - A woman was seriously injured January 18 after her ex emerged from her vehicle with a handgun and allegedly kidnapped her, forcing her to drive from Pasadena to Alhambra.

A concerned friend received a call from the woman who was heard arguing with a man. After the call dropped, the friend notified Alhambra Police Dispatch around 6:30 a.m. During a search for the woman’s vehicle near her residence, the woman’s son notified officers about a call he received from her, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

The son said his mother was still with the ex, identified as 43-year-old Alhambra resident Clemente Enrique Contreras.

Clemente allegedly followed the victim to Pasadena and was waiting in the back seat of her vehicle. He also allegedly forced her to drive to Alhambra, hitting her several times in the head, according to the Alhambra Police Department.

Officers located the woman’s vehicle at Almansor Street and Ross Avenue where the suspect exited, allegedly still armed with a handgun. The woman drove away. Contreras allegedly refused to surrender.

“Officers secured the scene and attempted to de-escalate the situation. After almost an hour of negotiation, Clemente Contreras of Alhambra, CA, dropped his weapon and was taken into custody,” according to the Alhambra Police Department in a written statement.

Contreras was booked on suspicion of domestic violence, kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon, criminal threats and false imprisonment, according to Lt. Grant Spencer of the Alhambra Police Department.

Contreras is being held in lieu $1.25 million at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility ahead of a scheduled appearance in the Alhambra Courthouse January 22.