A Long Beach man was arrested in Pasadena this week after police say he threatened a resident with a folding knife and a three-foot wooden pole during a confrontation in the 600 block of North Oakland Avenue. Officers detained the suspect as he tried to drive away, and the victim was not injured. The man was taken to the Pasadena jail and booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and making criminal threats, according to police.
What police say
According to Pasadena Now, Lt. Anthony Russo said officers were called at 1:27 p.m. Sunday to reports of a physical altercation in the 600 block of North Oakland Avenue. The dispute began when the victim’s ex-girlfriend arrived to talk about the welfare of their children, and her new boyfriend, identified as 28-year-old James Willard of Long Beach, allegedly threatened the victim with a three-foot wooden pole and said he would kill him, Russo told the outlet. Willard later retrieved a folding knife and brandished both the knife and the pole, according to Russo, who added that independent witnesses backed up the account.
Arrest and booking
Police detained Willard as he tried to drive away from the scene, and officers recovered the knife and pole from his vehicle after he agreed to a search, Pasadena Now reported. He was transported to the Pasadena jail and booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and criminal threats. Neither the victim nor the suspect was injured, according to police.
How to report tips
Pasadena police asked anyone with information about the incident to call the department’s non-emergency line at (626) 744-4241. The City of Pasadena lists that number for non-emergency requests, and anonymous tips can be submitted to Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or through the P3 Tips mobile app.
The Pasadena Police Department said the investigation is still active and the case remains under review. Authorities did not immediately release information about potential charges or bail.
