Monday, February 18, 2019

Protesters Disrupt Altadena Church’s Black History Celebration as Los Angeles County District Attorney Attempts to Speak

Loud protesters reportedly including the mothers of several people killed during incidents involving law enforcement disrupted a Black History Celebration at Altadena Baptist Church on Sunday night.

The incident occurred about 6 p.m. as keynote guest Jackie Lacey, the first African-American to serve as Los Angeles County’s District Attorney, was about to speak.

About a half dozen protesters, some holding signs, began shouting and several walked down the sanctuary’s center aisle to face off with Lacey, who was surrounded by her security detail.

Pasadena Black Lives Matters organizer Jasmine Abdullah Richards is seen and heard inside the Church’s sanctuary in video of the incident.

The protesters are angry with the District Attorney’s handling of investigations into the deaths of nine young black men and two young black women during law enforcement confrontations.

As the disruption continued, one witness said he saw members of the congregation wrestle away signs and banners from the demonstrators.

“Tempers flared” and eight Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies physically removed protestors from the church,

Thursday, February 14, 2019

Altadena’s Crime Blotter for the Week of Saturday, February 9th

Sunday, February 3rd

1:27 AM – A domestic violence incident occurred in the 700 block of Royce Street. Suspect was taken into custody.
10:00 PM – A vehicle burglary occurred in the 2300 block of Navarro Avenue. Suspect(s) entered the vehicle by shattering the window. Stolen: black leather purse, black iPad, black Jordan sneakers, and an Olive Garden gift card.

Monday, February 4th

4:12 PM – An assault with a deadly weapon occurred in the 2000 block of Marengo Avenue. Suspect has not been identified.

Tuesday, February 5th

10:00 AM – A package theft occurred in the 400 block of Poppyfields Drive. Stolen: package containing clothing.
1:27 PM – A package theft occurred in the 2300 block of Holliston Avenue. Stolen: packages containing shelves.
6:50 PM – A battery occurred in the 2100 block of Lincoln Avenue. Suspect has been identified.

Wednesday, February 6th

6:08 PM – Helena Watts,

Thursday, February 7, 2019

Altadena’s Crime Blotter for the Week of Saturday, February 2nd

Sunday, January 27th

3:30 PM – A petty theft from an unlocked vehicle occurred in the 3200 block of N. Lake Avenue. Stolen: gold and black Shisheido tote bag, black Coach wallet and personal documents.

Monday, January 28th

7:35 AM – A vehicle was reported stolen from the 800 block of Alameda Street. Vehicle described as a silver 2003 Toyota 4 Runner. *Vehicle recovered by LASD Altadena.
10:30 PM – A commercial burglary occurred in the 2300 block of Lake Avenue. Suspect entered the location by cutting the lock. No items reported stolen. Suspect has been identified as a juvenile.

Wednesday, January 30th

12:30 PM – A domestic violence incident occurred in the 100 block of W. Manor Street. Suspect was taken into custody.

Thursday, January 31st

6:36 AM – A vehicle was reported stolen from the area of Crosby Street and Lincoln Avenue. Vehicle described as a beige 2004 GMC Sierra.

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Altadena’s Crime Blotter for the Week of Saturday, January 26th

Sunday, January 20th

11:00 AM – A residential burglary occurred in the 1500 block of Atchison Street. Suspect(s) entered the residence via the rear sliding door. Stolen: gold and silver jewelry.

Monday, January 21st

4:15 PM – Alonso Garcia, 29 years old of Pasadena was arrested in the 1700 block of Washington Boulevard for possession of a controlled substance.
5:10 PM – A battery occurred in the area of Woodbury Road and Lincoln Avenue. Suspect has not been identified.

Tuesday, January 22nd

8:35 PM – A domestic violence incident occurred in the 900 block of N. Weimar Avenue. Suspect was taken into custody.

Wednesday, January 23rd

3:24 PM – Jeisleyr Alpoche, 40 years old of Pasadena was arrested in the 2200 block of E. Crary Street for possession of a controlled substance.

Thursday, January 24th

12:19 AM – Brian Jones, 41 years old of Altadena was arrested in the 2100 block of El Sereno Avenue for being under the influence of a controlled substance.

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Library District Agrees Monday to Settle Legal Claims by Ex-Director for $550,000

[Updated] The Altadena Library District agreed Monday to pay its former Director Mindy Kittay $550,000. That payment is on top of a $65,000 payment in 2018 from the Library to Director Kittay to settle her injuries covered by workers compensation.

The new settlement brings to an end a fractious public dispute between the innovative library leader and former Trustees which saw former Trustees purged from the Board of Trustees, Kittay paid $615,000 in damages, and $75,000 of Kittay’s attorneys’ fees funneled to fund grass-roots organizing.

Kittay was the Library’s Director from fall 2014 through mid-January, 2018. During that 3+ year period, Kittay’s supporters say she transformed a backward library into a 21st-century library that is outward-facing and responsive to the Altadena community.

But in January 2018, her doctor ordered her off work because of stress from what Kittay contended was harassment by former Trustees Ira Bershatsky, John McDonald, and Armando Zambrano.

Kittay hired Eagle Rock civil rights attorneys Dale Gronemeier and Skip Hickambottom,

Thursday, January 24, 2019

Altadena’s Crime Blotter for the Week of Saturday, January 19th

Sunday, January 13th

7:45 PM – A vehicle burglary occurred in the 500 block of Crosby Street. Suspect(s) entered the vehicle via unknown means. Stolen: case containing CD’s.

Monday, January 14th

8:00 AM – A vehicle was reported stolen from the 2400 block of Lincoln Avenue. Vehicle described as a white 2012 Lincoln MKS. Vehicle was recovered by CHP Altadena on 1/14/2019.

Tuesday, January 15th

9:00 AM – A residential burglary occurred in the 70 block of Reever Way. Suspect(s) entered the residence by shattering the window. Stolen: unknown.
 

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Sheriff’s Department Asks Public For Help in Finding Teenager Missing Since Sunday

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Missing Persons Unit detectives are seeking the public’s help in locating Jonas Elijah Nelson. He is a 19-year-old black teenager who was last seen Sunday, January 6, 2019 at approximately 8:00 p.m. on the 4000 block of Chaney Trail in Altadena.

Nelson is described as 6’04”, 190 lbs., with brown hair and blue eyes.

He was last seen wearing black sweat pants and an orange hoody with silver reflective tape.

The Altadena Mountain Rescue Team has been searching the area where he was last seen.

“On Saturday, we had members of Sierra Madre, San Dimas, and Montrose Search and Rescue Teams totaling 44 searchers spent 10+ hours on the hillside looking for Jonas,” an AMRT spokesperson said. “We were also joined by two Sheriff’s helicopters, sadly we were not able to find Jonas.”

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Missing Persons Detail,

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Altadena’s Crime Blotter for the Week of Saturday, January 12th

Sunday, January 6th

10:00 PM – A vehicle burglary occurred in the 1700 block of N. Craig Avenue. Suspect(s) entered the vehicle via the unlocked door. Stolen: blue/white tennis rackets, black toolbox and a black video dash-cam.

Monday, January 7th

10:00 AM – A residential burglary occurred in the 2900 block of Casitas Avenue. Suspect(s) entered the residence by removing the window screen. Stolen: diamond ring, silver bracelet and a black coin purse.
2:07 PM – An assault with a deadly weapon occurred in the 500 block of Devirian Place. Suspect has been identified.
9:14 PM – An assault with a deadly weapon occurred in the 200 block of W. Palm Drive. Suspect was taken into custody.
10:08 PM – Jorge Espinoza, 22 years old of Pasadena was arrested in the 2100 block of Lincoln Avenue for being under the influence of a controlled substance.

Tuesday, January 8th

8:00 AM – A shoplifting incident occurred in the 3000 block of Lincoln Avenue.

Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Volunteers Still Needed for “Every Person Has A Name”, A 25-Hour Holocaust Remembrance Program to Commemorate UN International Holocaust Remembrance Day

The Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys is partnering with the City of Pasadena and the community’s synagogues, to hold Every Person Has a Name. This 25-hour vigil will be held on the steps of Pasadena City Hall on Saturday, January 26 – Sunday, January 27, 2019.

The program will begin with a commemoration ceremony at 7:00 p.m. and it will feature speeches from elected officials, including Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek, Congresswoman Judy Chu, State Senator Anthony Portantino, LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Assemblymember Chris Holden (invited), Assemblymember Blanca Rubio, local clergy, as well as performances by the Jewish Federation’s Jewish Youth Orchestra and Kol HaEmek.

Immediately following the ceremony, the program will transition into the reading of the names of people who perished during the Holocaust. Holocaust survivors, and children of Holocaust survivors from around the community will begin by reading the names of their family members who were killed during the Holocaust, and then will be followed by volunteers from throughout the community reading names.

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Altadena’s Crime Blotter for the Week of Saturday, December 15th

Monday, December 10th

9:45 PM – A domestic battery occurred in the area of Glenrose Avenue and Woodbury Road. Suspect was taken into custody.

Tuesday, December 11th

3:15 PM – A residential vandalism occurred in the 400 block of W. Altadena Drive. Damage: shattered window.
7:50 PM – A battery occurred in the 2300 block of Marengo Avenue. Suspect has been identified.

Friday, December 14th

9:04 AM – Nyah Brown, 38 years old of Los Angeles was arrested in the 700 block of E. Altadena Drive for shoplifting. Items stolen were recovered.

Saturday, December 15th

12:08 AM – Darshion Hamilton, 38 years old of Altadena was arrested in the 1900 block of Lake Avenue for being under the influence of a controlled substance.