PASADENA, CA –   Pasadena Police Detectives announced the arrest of two adult males in connection with a homicide that occurred near PCC on Monday night.

Last night Detectives arrested Patrick Mason (male 42 years, Pasadena resident) and Steven Sumner (male 45 years, Pasadena resident, who is on parole for Assault with a Deadly Weapon) in connection with the killing of James Hall (male 41 years, Pasadena resident). Victim Hall was found Monday evening at 8:00 PM near PCC by a passerby. Hall had been stabbed. He later died at Huntington Hospital.

Detectives stated that the victim and suspects may have had an earlier confrontation prior to the stabbing. Detectives are following up on more leads today.  “It should be made clear that the incident had nothing to do with PCC or activities at PCC,” says Janet Pope Givens, of the Pasadena Police Department.  “We want to insure that students and teachers understand that this is an isolated incident that simply occurred in the vicinity.” 

Anyone with any information regarding this case is asked to call the Pasadena Police Detective Section at (626) 744-4522.

To view the PDF version of this Press Release click Two Arrested in Homicide Case

PASADENA, CA –   Pasadena Police officers responded to a call in the area of the 100 block of South Hill Street last night at 8:00 PM from a citizen who reported that a man had been stabbed. Officers and paramedics responded and found a victim who was immediately transported to a local hospital where he expired from his wounds.

While little is known about what actually occurred that prompted the fatal attack, it appears that the victim flagged down a passerby, and told that person that he had been stabbed.  That person, in turn called the police department.  “Detectives were called in and worked though the night to develop some possible leads,” says Chief Bernard Melekian.  They are currently following those leads with the assistance of some the of the dayshift personnel.” 

The identity of the adult male victim is being withheld pending notification of the family.

Anyone with any information that will help with this case is asked to call the Pasadena Police Detective Section at (626) 744-4522.

To view the PDF version of this Press Release click Homicide

PASADENA, CA – At a hearing this morning, the Los Angeles Civil Court ruled against the City of Pasadena and its position that the release of officers’ names in critical incidents should be left to the discretion of the department.  “I am disappointed with the Court’s decision in this matter,” says Chief Bernard Melekian.  “I believe that we have, in the spirit of transparency, made every effort to be open about the Barnes’ and all other cases we investigate in releasing information  as long as it did not jeopardize the safety or well being of the officers and their families.” 

Pursuant to the court’s orders the names of the officers will not be released.  In the meantime the department will consult with the City Attorney to see what the next steps are pending the hearing date.

To View the PDF version of this Press Release click Judge’s Ruling Prevents Names of Officers in Barnes Shooting From Being Released

PASADENA, CA –  Patrol Officers responded to a call for service last evening at about 9:45 in the 10 block of South Virginia Ave.  Police arrived within a few minutes where an adult daughter, who lives at the location, had also just arrived home.  She reported to the officers that her mother was deceased in the house and her father was in a car in the driveway.  She told officers that when she approached him on her arrival home, he told her that he had just killed her mother and that he was going to kill himself.  Officers discovered the suspect in his car with several syringes in the seat next to him.  The suspect’s ex-wife was discovered inside the location where she had already expired.  The suspect, identified as William Manson, 78 of Los Angeles, also told officers that he had killed his wife and was going to kill himself. Manson was taken to an area hospital. He is under arrest for murder.

The victim is identified as Elinor Manson, 74.  The couple had been divorced for several years and Mr. Hanson did not live at the location.  Initial reports indicate that he had become upset over a family issue, went to the home of his ex-wife and then killed her. 

To view the PDF version of this Press Release click Man Murders Ex Wife

PASADENA, CA - Pasadena Chief of Police Bernard Melekian announced today he has invited a team led by a former federal prosecutor to conduct an independent review of the Feb. 19 officer-involved shooting in Pasadena that fatally wounded an armed suspect.

Melekian and his command team initiated the involvement of the Los Angeles County Office of Independent Review (OIR) to supplement other internal and independent investigations already underway into the incident.

“The Pasadena Police Department is committed to the values of excellence, innovation and integrity in everything we do,” Melekian said.  “The Office of Independent Review has the credibility, expertise - and independence - to conduct the kind of review that will help ensure continuing community confidence in the work our dedicated police officers do.”

The Office of Independent Review (OIR) is a citizen oversight group led by Michael Gennaco, a former prosecutor and chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Civil Rights Section. The mission of the OIR is to monitor the Sheriff’s Department and provide legal advice to ensure that allegations of officer misconduct are investigated in a thorough, fair and effective way.

An internal Pasadena Police Department review, and investigations by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Department of Justice, through the Federal Bureau of Investigation, will evaluate whether the actions of two police officers involved in the Feb. 19 incident complied with all department policies, procedures and training, and state and federal laws.

A backseat passenger in a car stopped on Mentone Avenue for an alleged traffic violation, Barnes was fatally shot after pointing a handgun at one of the two officers during a struggle to remove him from the car, Melekian said.  Barnes did not fire the .32 caliber semi automatic handgun, which was recovered by police at the scene.

“The internal and independent investigations will fully consider all evidence collected in the case,” Melekian said.

Melekian said the OIR will have full access to documents, evidence and Pasadena police personnel as part of this review.  The Chief said the OIR will also have access to videotape of the incident, which was captured by a dashboard-mounted camera on the police cruiser.  The videotape will not be released to the public while the investigations are ongoing, Melekian said.

To view the PDF version of this Press Release click Pasadena Police Initiate Independent Review of Officer Involved Shooting Other Probes Continuing into February 19th Fatal Shooting of Armed Suspect

PASADENA, CA - On February 19th of this year, two Pasadena Police officers assigned to Day Watch patrol made a traffic stop near the intersection of Mentone & Washington. Seventy four seconds later, many lives had been changed forever. 

The last several weeks have been difficult for everyone involved. They have been difficult for the Barnes’ family, they have been difficult for the officers involved and they have been difficult for the community at large. There have been a number of reported statements by a variety of persons, many of which were inaccurate.

Within two hours after this incident, the department issued a statement to the media describing what had occurred. Ultimately, one point in that statement turned out to be wrong. In the interest of full transparency, Chief Melekian issued a clarification almost immediately. The intent was to demonstrate candor and forthrightness. 

The Pasadena Police Department believes that the most critical component of community policing is a bridge of trust between the police department and the community we serve. The ease with which that bridge can be damaged points out the amount of work yet to be done.

Subsequently, the department agreed with the family of Mr. Barnes that neither the family nor the city would issue any further statements until it was time for the official report. The family was told that the department would attempt to have that report completed within 30 days. The Chief further assured them that they would be briefed as to the results of the investigation prior to its official release. Both of those objectives have been met.   

Today, Chief Melekian presented the results of the police investigation that was conducted to determine what occurred on that Thursday afternoon. “It is important to remember that today’s report is the beginning, not the end, of a long process of analysis,” says Chief Melekian.  “This matter will be reviewed in greater detail by the Pasadena Police Department’s Professional Standards unit, which is completely separate from the Homicide Unit.  They will review the issues of policy, tactics, training and equipment.”  That aspect of this investigation, which is currently underway, will not be completed for several weeks.

The Los Angeles County Coroner’s office report has been completed with the exception of the toxicology results. A hold had been placed on that report pending the completion of this initial investigation so that they could be released simultaneously and each reviewed in the context of the other.    

This report will now be submitted to the District Attorney’s Public Integrity Division. That office will review this matter to determine if this shooting was justified. They will focus on the criminal aspects of this case concerning all of the involved parties. The DA’s office makes every effort to complete their investigation within 90 days of receiving the department’s report.

Additionally, the department has requested that the Federal Bureau of Investigation review this matter to determine if Mr. Barnes’ civil rights were violated. All of the Pasadena Police Department’s reports, along with other related documents, will be submitted to the FBI.

“In view of the concerns expressed by some in our community regarding the need for an independent review of this matter and in the interest of continuing to demonstrate full transparency, I have asked the Los Angeles County Office of Independent Review to take this matter under consideration,” says the Chief.  “I am joined today by Mr. Mike Gennaco, the Chief Attorney of the Office of Independent Review and Mr. Robert Miller, the Deputy Chief Attorney of that office.” 

The Office of Independent Review is a separate body that reviews Officer Involved Shootings and Use of Force incidents for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies.

“They will conduct their own investigation, both as to the incident itself and the quality of the investigation,” the Chief continues.  “They have been involved with this investigation since the second week after the incident occurred. They have had, and will continue to have, unlimited access to all aspects of this investigation. At an appropriate time, to be determined by their office, they will issue separate reports to me and the City Manager.”

The video recording of the incident will not be released at this time. As previously articulated, there are a number of agencies that are and will be continuing to conduct official investigations. The City will exercise its legal and professional obligation to allow that work to occur in an appropriate fashion. Each of the agencies mentioned earlier will have full access to the video recording.

An accounting of what occurred demonstrates the following facts: Chief’s Briefing on the Officer Involved Shooting - Chief Melekian’s Remarks

     • Mr. Barnes was armed with a loaded and operational firearm
     • Mr. Barnes was on active parole. If he had been arrested in possession of the weapon, he faced the
       possibility of being returned to prison for an extended period of time, possibly for the rest of his life
     • A violent physical struggle occurred in the back seat of the car for the control of that weapon
     • Mr. Barnes pointed the weapon at the face of an officer and that officer shot him
     • Mr. Barnes stepped from the car, with the gun in his hand, and was shot several more times
     • Mr. Barnes died as a consequence of his own decisions and actions. As you will see, there are several points
       during this encounter where, if Mr. Barnes chooses a different course, there is a completely different and non-
       violent outcome.

As I said when we started, seventy-four seconds altered many lives. The Barnes family has lost someone they love. The two officers, who did not come to work that day wanting to have to use deadly force, will live with this tragic event for the rest of their lives.

The men and women of the Pasadena Police Department have worked very hard over the years to build relationships and partnerships with this community.  This incident points out the seeming ease with which the results of those years of hard work on the part of many people can be eroded. It points out the work yet to be done to ensure that the bridge of trust between the department and the community is maintained.

To view the PDF version of this Press Release click