Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

PASADENA - Detectives with the Pasadena Police Department’s Major Narcotics/Special Investigations Section seized 328,000 fentanyl pills, two kilos of cocaine and seized an un-serialized “ghost gun” during a narcotics investigation September 24.

The contraband was discovered as part of an ongoing narcotics investigation, according to the Pasadena Police Department.

Detectives discovered within the seized contraband several packages of what was described as candy-colored fentanyl pills.

“This candy-colored fentanyl, dubbed “rainbow fentanyl” in the media, appears to be a new method used by drug cartels to sell highly addictive and potentially deadly fentanyl to children and young people,” according to the Pasadena Police Department.

So far this year, Pasadena narcotics investigators, with the assistance of local and federal agencies, seized approximately 708,500 fentanyl pills in nearly 32 kilos of fentanyl, according to the Pasadena Police Department.

“The Pasadena Police Department urges community members to call 911 immediately if they encounter fentanyl in any form, and we urge parents to be especially careful with the candy their children bring home during the upcoming Halloween festivities,” according to the Pasadena Police Department.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

REGION - A San Gabriel woman is looking at a possible maximum sentence of life in prison after allegedly selling drugs that sickened seven men, killing three of them in Pasadena recently, federal prosecutors said Friday.

Marisol Bolanos Hernandez, 35, allegedly admitted to Pasadena officers that she sold what she believed to be cocaine to some of the victims September 11, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.

Two men were hospitalized after being found unconscious at a location in Pasadena September 11. One man died, the other survived after he responded to Nalaxone, which helped authorities to confirm that the man ingested opioids. His urine sample also helped to confirm that the victim ingested cocaine.

Pasadena detectives were able to identify Hernandez after one of the two victims who first became sickened after ingesting the purported cocaine referred to her by name. Additional evidence helped identify her, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

A white powder seized at the location of the overdose has not been tested yet, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Hernandez also allegedly sold narcotics to two other men September 11. The two additional victims require hospitalization. Both survive.

Phone records from a second fatal overdose led back to Hernandez, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

After being arrested by Pasadena police, Hernandez was transferred to the custody of special agents with a Drug Enforcement Administration.

Hernandez was charged with one count of drug distribution resulting in serious bodily injury. If convicted as charged, Hernandez face is a minimum of 20 years in federal prison, or a lifetime maximum, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

PASADENA - Seven people were hospitalized in less than 24 hours, the victims of likely drug overdoses, Pasadena Police said Saturday.

Three of the seven victims died, three are recovering at area hospitals and one is listed in grave condition, according to the Pasadena Police Department in a written statement.

Two of the surviving victims were administered Nalaxone, Pasadena Police said.

The first victim was transported to an area hospital Friday, September 11 at 4:30 p.m. The unresponsive victim was suffering from respiratory distress consistent with opiate overdose, Pasadena Police said.

The most recent incident occurred at 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon and the 1700 block of Casitas Avenue were a victim was found deceased. Evidence of drug usage was found, Pasadena Police said.

All seven victims are men ranging in age from their 30s to their 60s, Pasadena Police said.

“Pasadena detectives have responded and are actively investigating to determine if these incidents are linked. Opium-related deaths are not common in Pasadena, and both the police department and fire department are extremely concerned about the increase in overdose-related deaths over the past 24 hours,” Pasadena Police said in a written statement.

Anyone with information about any of these cases to call Pasadena Police at 626-744-4241. Information can be anonymously by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3 Tips mobile app, or at lacrimestoppers.org.