Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

UPDATED, 10:06 p.m. - A computer fire, not chemicals, caused a small fire in the Linde Robinson Laboratory, according to Pasadena Fire Department and Caltech officials.

The Pasadena Fire Department announced the response to the lab fire concluded at 9:58 p.m.

PASADENA - Sprinklers extinguished a lab fire in the California Institute of Technology Tuesday night.

The building housing the lab was evacuated as a precaution.  Specialized teams are assessing the materials found in the lab, which is adorned with hazardous materials placards, according to the Pasadena Fire Department.

No injuries were reported.

Firefighters were dispatched at 7:47 p.m. to Caltech, 1200 East California Boulevard.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

PASADENA - Two apartment units were destroyed in a fire that caused $250,000 in damage Saturday night.

Six residents from the two damaged units were displaced from the apartment complex in the 1000 block of East California Boulevard. Firefighters saved the other 22 units and their contents totaling $18 million, according to the Pasadena Fire Department.

The fire ignited just before 10:30 p.m.

It was not stated if firefighters knew what sparked the blaze.

The American Red Cross is assisting the displaced residents.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

PASADENA - Firefighters are initiating an unknown number of evacuations while they fight a fire in an apartment complex.

The fire is burning in an apartment complex in the 1000 block of East California Boulevard. A second alarm response was requested, according to Pasadena Fire Department radio traffic.

The fire, first dispatched at 10:29 p.m., is affecting an unknown number of units.

Firefighters arriving on scene initially reported flames coming from a chimney.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES - A missing woman with diabetes and dementia was found safe and unharmed in Los Angeles, Pasadena Police said.

Mary Elizabeth Williams, 69, was found after going missing for about two days. Williams was last seen leaving her home with her jack Russell Terrier around 10 a.m. in the 1600 block of North Lake Avenue March 20.

Williams was an Encino resident and it was thought she may have been trying to go back there, Pasadena Police said.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

PASADENA – It has been more than 24 hours since a 69-year-old woman has gone missing from her home, but she may have been seen since then, police said.
 
Mary Elisabeth Williams was possibly spotted in the Hollywood area about eight hours after she was last seen. She may have been spotted at Vermont and Prospect in the Hollywood area around 6 p.m., according to Pasadena Police.
 
Williams also suffers from Diabetes.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

PASADENA - Officers are searching for a 69-year-old woman who was last seen leaving her home Tuesday morning.

Mary Williams left her residence around 10 a.m. in the 1600 bloc of North Lake Avenue and has yet to return home. Williams suffers from dementia and daibetes, Pasadena Police said.

Williams is a Black woman, thin and was wearing a black curly wig and a green dress. She was walking a tan Jack Russell Terrier.

Anyone with information on Williams’ whereabouts is urged to call the Pasadena Police Department at 626-744-4241.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a suspect or suspects who dropped a boulder onto a car, killing its passenger.
 
Christopher Lopez died Tuesday, March 13 after a 30 to 35-pound boulder hit a Toyota Corolla driven by Lopez’s wife, Guadalupe Gutierrez.

​Lopez was identified by Lt. David Smith of the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.
 
Investigators believe the boulder was intentionally dropped from the Orange Grove Boulevard overpass as the Corolla was westbound on the 134 freeway in Pasadena, the California Highway Patrol Altadena Office said.
 
The boulder struck the Corolla around 8:55 p.m. March 13.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

ALTADENA – A 23-year-old man died Tuesday after a 30 to 35-pound boulder crashed through the windshield and hit him, the CHP said.
 
Christopher Lopez died at Glendale Adventist Medical Center after the female driver took him there just after the boulder hit her Toyota Corolla.

​Lopez was identified by Lt. David Smith of the Los Angeles County Department of Medical ExaminerCoroner.
 
Investigators believe the boulder was intentionally dropped from the Orange Grove Boulevard overpass as the Corolla was westbound on the 134 freeway in Pasadena, the California Highway Patrol Altadena Office said.
 
The boulder struck the Corolla around 8:55 p.m. March 13.
 
“Being startled, [the driver] temporarily lost control of her vehicle and began swerving across traffic lanes. Upon regaining control of her vehicle, she drove immediately to Glendale Adventist Medical Center,” The CHP said.
 
Medical staff attempted to save Lopez, but he died at the hospital.

Lopez's city of residence was unavailable.
 
Anyone with information on this incident is urged to call the Altadena CHP at 626-296-8100.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

PASADENA – Police Chief Phillip Sanchez announced publicly Monday his retirement, which will take place April 18.
 
Sanchez made the announcement in a press release and stated he informed Pasadena City Manager Steve Mermell of his intentions.
 
“The decision to step away from serving my community is a difficult one which took much deliberation and careful thought. For the past eight years, I have had the honor of leading one of the nation’s finest law enforcement agencies, comprised of heroic men and women who serve with distinction in keeping our city safe,” Sanchez said.
 
The timing of Sanchez’s retirement might seem suspect.
 
A Police lieutenant, Vasken Kenneth Gourdekian, was recently arrested after a months-long investigation into questionable purchases and sale of more than 100 weapons. A second officer is also being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, accused of being involved in the sales.
 
Two Pasadena Police officers were reassigned after an incident in which an Altadena man was beaten during an incident in Altadena November of 2017. The victim, Christopher Ballew suffered a number of injuries, including a broken leg:

​In the face of recent department turmoil, Sanchez states he is proud of the progress made during his eight-year tenure.
 
“We implemented various new technologies into our policing abilities including the Body Worn Camera program and enhanced community outreach with the Community Police Academy in both English and Spanish,” Sanchez said.
 
“We have increased the diversity of the Police Department to reflect the community it serves, all the while enhancing our responses to terror threats at large events, while working hard to deliver exceptional police service.”

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

PASADENA – One civilian and five officers were injured when two helicopters collided on a police heliport, according to footage released by the National Transportation Safety Board.
 
The footage was recorded November 17, 2012 and shows a helicopter approaching the helipad as a second helicopter was preparing to take off. Their rotor blades collided.
 
Both helicopters are used by Pasadena Police to patrol the city and are used in partnering agencies to assist outside police departments.

The commercial pilot and two passengers of one helicopter received minor injuries. The commercial pilot and tactical flight officer in the second helicopter received minor injuries. One person on the ground received minor injuries, according to the NTSB.
 
The landing helicopter was just arriving from covering an event at the Pasadena Rose Bowl. The second helicopter was just about to take off for an in-progress call.
 
An air support lieutenant noted the weather that day was spotty and perhaps not ideal to fly in.
 
“The lieutenant walked out of his office toward N96BM, with the intent of telling the flight crew to stand down. He stated that he had been standing by the left door on the outside of N96BM. He observed N911FA returning to base, and thought that was a good thing. He recalled hearing a loud bang, getting knocked to the ground, and then running away from N96BM,” according to an NTSB report.

Read the report HERE.