Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch

 SOUTH PASADENA – Detectives are still seeking the suspect accused of making a more than $4,000 fraudulent credit card purchase at a store in town.
 
The property ordered in the fraudulent purchase was recovered by detectives serving a search warrant in Los Angeles January 3. The suspect remains outstanding, according to the South Pasadena Police Department.

The suspect purchased the property with a credit card over the phone. The delivery address was changed by the suspect while the property was en route, South Pasadena Police said.
 
The credit card was fraudulently used, South Pasadena Police said.
 
Detectives located the property in the 3000 block of West Slauson Avenue. All the fraudulently purchased property was returned to the business, South Pasadena Police said.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SOUTH PASADENA – A Los Angeles man and shoplifting suspect was arrested December 19, found with stolen credit cards and drug paraphernalia.
 
Officers responded to the 1200 block of Fair Oaks Avenue to investigate a shoplifting and detained the suspect, 28-year-old Matthew Johnson, nearby. A female accomplice was detained in the 1000 block of Fremont Avenue, South Pasadena Police said.
 
Johnson claimed the credit cards came from a homeless encampment where he lives in Los Angeles.
 
Both Johnson and his accomplice admitted that they steal property to fuel their drug habits, South Pasadena Police said.
 
Johnson was booked on suspicion of possessing drug paraphernalia and for fraudulent possession of credit cards. The accomplice was later released, South Pasadena Police said.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SOUTH PASADENA - A Compton man was arrested Tuesday, identified as one of the men who attempted a take over of a South Pasadena jewelry store.

Omar Teriq Bradley, 21, was detained by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies in Compton December 18. He was driving the same Chevrolet Malibu used in the failed December 14 heist, according to the South Pasadena Police Department.

Bradley was the sole occupant detained in the Malibu. He was held by Sheriff’s deputies until South Pasadena officers arrived and arrested him on suspicion of attempted robbery and assault with a deadly weapon, South Pasadena Police said.

Teriq was the man who brandished metal knuckles during the failed heist at Vana Watch and Jewelry, 1401 Mission St.

The second and still outstanding suspect is the man seen in surveillance footage pulling a knife on one of the jewelry store employees before a second employee produced a black handgun, which sent both suspects running.

Anyone with information on the outstanding suspect’s whereabouts is urged to call South Pasadena detectives at 626-403-7280.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SOUTH PASADENA - The 79-year-old man missing since Thursday was found dead a day later in a hospital bathroom.

Edward Ng was discovered in a bathroom at 1500 San Pablo Street Friday morning. Ng was pronounced dead at 5:20 a.m., according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

The property houses Keck Hospital of USC and Fresenius Medical Care at La County And Usc - Apheresis.

A cause of death has not been determined.

The Los Angeles Police Department does not suspect foul play in Ng’s death.

Ng was last seen at his home around 1 p.m. December 13. He may have taken a ride share service to the County USC/Medical Center area, South Pasadena Police said.

The cell phone Ng carried was likely tuned off, South Pasadena Police said.

Ng required medical attention, but investigators did not specify his medical needs.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SOUTH PASADENA - A dramatic scene unfolded Friday morning after two men attempted to rob a jewelry store at knifepoint.
 
The two suspects attempted to rob Vana Watch and Jewelry around 10:54 a.m. The suspects pretended to be interested in some of the front counter items when one of the suspects produced a knife and attempted to stab an employee, according to surveillance footage provided by the South Pasadena Police Department.

​One of the jewelry store employees produced a black handgun and scared off the two men as the intended stabbing victim tried to wrestle the knife away.
 
The suspects fled the store, with at least three employees giving chase on foot.
 
Both suspects then fled in a green Chevy Malibu.
 
Anyone who can identify the suspects is urged to call the South Pasadena Police Department at 626-403-7280, or L.A. Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222- TIPS (8477).

Written by AARON CASTREJON
​CityWatch Editor

SOUTH PASADENA - A resident has not been seen or heard from since Thursday afternoon, police said.

Edward Ng was last seen at his home around 1 p.m. December 13. He may have taken a ride share service to the County USC/Medical Center area, South Pasadena Police said.

The cell phone Ng carries has likely been tuned off, South Pasadena Police said.

Ng requires medical attention.

Ng was last seen wearing dress slacks and an unknown color shirt.

Anyone who knows Ng’s whereabouts is urged to call South Pasadena Police at 626-403-7265.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SOUTH PASADENA - A dead man was discovered at Arroyo Park Friday morning, police said.
 
The body was discovered in the park adjacent to Arroy Seco in the 800 block of Stoney Drive November 30. Investigators believe the man’s death was natural, according to the South Pasadena Police Department.
 
Anyone with information on this death is urged to call the South Pasadena Police Department at 626-403-7280.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SOUTH PASADENA - Police are seeking a masked suspect who placed suspicious stickers at random locations throughout South Pasadena High School October 30.
 
The incident was caught surveillance camera around 10:30 p.m. The suspect donned a “Scream” Halloween mask and placed the stickers, which read “It’s okay to be white,” according to the South Pasadena Police Department.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SOUTH PASADENA - A 21-year-old driver was hospitalized November 3 after crashing into a building support column, police said.

The crash was reported just after 2 a.m. in the 1400 block of Huntington Drive. A Los Angeles man was driving at a high rate of speed when he veered off Fair Oaks Avenue and struck the support column, according to South Pasadena Police.

The driver sustained significant injuries, South Pasadena Police said.

“This investigation is still ongoing; however, alcohol and/or drug impairment appear to be a contributing factor in this collision,” South Pasadena Police said in a written statement.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

SOUTH PASADENA - Two independent investigations into the shooting of a woman August 30 are being conducted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and Sheriff’s Department.

John Pope, South Pasadena public information officer, issued a statement Saturday, urging patience as the two independent reviews are underway.

“City leaders said they welcome the two separate, independent investigations ... and caution against preliminary judgements about the incident,” Pope said.

Strangely though, while advising against preliminary judgements about the shooting, city leaders said “We believe our officers acted appropriately under a tragic set of circumstances,” according to South Pasadena City Manager Stephanie DeWolfe.

The incident began around 11:48 am.. Thursday after the landlord of a property in the 1100 block of Fremont Avenue called officers to check the welfare of a woman there who was reportedly experiencing seizures, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.
 
Police arrived and summoned South Pasadena Firefighters to tend to 49-year-old Vanessa Marquez’s medical needs. Seeing that Marquez needed mental health services, a Los Angeles County Mental Health Clinician worked with police for more than 90 minutes to convince Marquez to seek help.
 
Marquez allegedly became uncooperative and armed herself with what appeared to be a handgun, Sheriff’s Information Bureau said.
 
Two officers opened fire on Marquez, striking her at least once in the torso. Marquez was taken to an area hospital and declared dead.

The gun was later determined to be a replica firearm pellet gun.
 
Marquez was identified as a former actress, having appeared on “ER” from 1994 to 1997 as the character Wendy Goldman. She also starred in the 1988 movie “Stand and Deliver” as Ana Delgado, amongst many other roles.
 
Marquez spoke on social media about her health problems, which included seizures and celiac disease, stating she was terminally ill.

“We look forward to hearing the results of the investigation,” DeWolfe said. “In the meantime we are asking the public to be patient and wait until the facts of the case are confirmed before making judgements about the incident.