On Monday, September 24, 2007, the Pasadena Police Department will conduct a Speed Enforcement Detail. This operation is from 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. throughout the City of Pasadena.

The program is an effective tool in educating the public in regards to safer driving habits.

The Pasadena Police Department is committed to reducing the number of traffic collisions resulting from speed violations.

These programs are grant funded through the Office of Traffic Safety in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

For more information contact Lt. Riddle at (626) 744-7159

Speed Enforcement Detail (PDF)

The Pasadena Chief of Police Bernard Melekian will hold a press conference to discuss a 20 year old murder case that was recently solved by Pasadena Police Detectives.  The conference will be held at:The Pasadena Police Department arrested a 56 year-old male on Thursday of last week in connection with the rape and murder of Mary Drew in 1987.  “This is the first case to be solved by our Unsolved Homicide Unit which was formed this fiscal year,” says Chief Melekian.  “We are looking forward to using the resources we have today to bring the crimes of yesterday to justice.”

Press Conference
(PDF)

The Pasadena Police Department arrested a 56 year-old male on Thursday in connection with the rape-murder of an elderly Pasadena woman in 1987. The suspect, Robert Tillman, was arrested without incident in Los Angeles.

On May 6, 1987, Mary Drew, age 72, was found raped and murdered in a Board & Care facility in the 1100 block of N. Los Robles in Pasadena. Tillman was considered a suspect at the time but detectives had insufficient evidence to file charges against him. With no additional evidence available Tillman was eventually released and the case lay dormant for 19 years.

On July 2, 2007, the Pasadena Police Department created its Unsolved Homicide Case unit. With more than 100 unsolved murders, some dating back to the 1950’s, Detectives have selected several cases in hopes that they can now identify possible suspects. DNA evidence was collected from the Mary Drew case and sent to the Los Angeles Crime Lab for review. When Tillman’s DNA was found in a sample from the evidence the case was submitted to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office who filed murder charges against Tillman on August 28th, and issued an arrest warrant for him.

Tillman’s whereabouts were unknown until Los Angeles Social Security Administration Special Agents assisted Pasadena Homicide Detectives in locating Tilllman as he walked to his home in Los Angeles.
The suspect is currently being held in County Jail without bail.

DNA HELPS DETECTIVES SOLVE 20 YEAR OLD MURDER (PDF)

Pasadena, CA - On Thursday, August 23, 2007, at approximately 7:20 a.m., a male suspect entered the Walgreen’s store located in the 600 block of N. Lake Avenue, a few minutes after the store opened for business. The suspect walked in and confronted the manager, store employees and customers at gunpoint.  The suspect ordered the manager to open the safe and removed cash estimated in excess of $2,000.00.  The sole suspect then bound everyone’s hands with zip ties and fled the store.

On Saturday, August 25, 2007 at approximately 10:00 a.m. a male suspect, matching the same description, entered the Cash America business located in the 1300 block of North Lake Avenue, minutes after it opened. The armed suspect demanded the lone clerk to open the safe.  The clerk complied and gave the suspect over $8,000.00 that was in the safe. The suspect then bound the clerk’s hands and fled the store.  The suspect in both cases is described as: Male possibly African American, 26 to 40 years old, 6′ to 6′1″, medium build, ski mask, and gloves. In the first case the suspect was wearing a large green down ski type jacket.  In both cases the suspect is armed with what appears to be a large black semi-automatic hand gun. The suspect is considered armed and dangerous.  

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Pasadena Police Department Detective Section at (626) 744-4522. or the Tip Hotline at (626)744-8477.

For More information:Janet Pope GivensWatch Commander (626) 744-4620