​Pasadena Mayor Claims Intimidation by Protestors During Event Outside Mayor’s Home Friday

PHOTO/Unsplash.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

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PASADENA - Protestors got into a vocal confrontation with Mayor Terry Tornek October 23 in what the mayor claims was an intimidation effort to promote another agenda.

Protestors presented demands in the wake of the police shooting death of Anthony McClain from August. Tornek claims protestors were largely there to demand charges be dropped against the protest leader.

Tornek took to the city’s website Saturday morning to express from his viewpoint the events that unfolded the previous night.

“I went out to talk with them at the sidewalk and to respond to their demands, but was immediately shouted down. References made to important police oversight reforms were dismissed, so I returned to my home,” Tornek said in a written statement.

"The focus was largely not on Mr. McClain, but rather about promoting the agenda of the event spokesperson and organizer, and compelling me to have a variety of criminal charges pending against her dropped.

Tornek likely referred to Jasmin Richards, the boisterous and sometimes embattled member of a local Black Lives Matter chapter. Her energy and frustration has put herself and BLM in the limelight over the last few years.

An often vocal speaker at city council meetings, Ricards was arrested Saturday, August 29, 2015, and later convicted of a felony charge of “lynching,” which California Penal Code describes as "taking by means of a riot of any person from the lawful custody of any peace officer.” 

Richards, who intervened and tried to take from police detention a person accused of trying to flee without paying for a meal at a Pasadena restaurant, was sentenced to 90 days in jail and probation.

Anthony McClain, 32, fled from Pasadena officers during a traffic stop August 15, 2020 near Raymond Avenue and Grandview Street. Police stated McClain removed a handgun from his waistband during a foot chase. The gun was either tossed by McClain, or dropped as he ran.

A Pasadena officer opened fire twice on McClain who collapsed at the scene. A loaded and apparently unregistered handgun was recovered, according to the Pasadena Police Department.

McClain, the passenger of the stopped vehicle, was taken to an area hospital where he later died. The driver cooperated with police and admitted to driving on a suspended license.

DNA evidence processed from several parts of the handgun recovered at the scene was a match to a DNA sample taken from McClain by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. McClain’s DNA was the only forensic evidence found on the gun, the Pasadena Police Department alleges.

McClain has a criminal record, having been convicted of robbery and at the time of the shooting was under supervision of Los Angeles County probation officers under Post-Release Community Supervision. He was also restricted from possessing firearms due to his felony conviction, Pasadena Police said.