.png)
On Thursday, March 2, 2023, at approximately 3:13 a.m., a South Pasadena police officer was patrolling the area of the 1600 block of Fremont Avenue when he noticed a suspicious Lexus sedan. The officer observed that the Lexus did not have the headlights on, did
not have a rear license plate displayed, and was double-parked immediately adjacent to a Toyota Prius, a pattern seen frequently during catalytic converter theft attempts.
The officer initiated a traffic stop, and the Lexus fled southbound on Fremont Avenue, reaching speeds of 70 miles per hour, and failing to stop at multiple red traffic lights.
Due to unsafe conditions, the officer aborted the pursuit at Fremont Avenue and Alhambra Road. The Alhambra Police Department was immediately notified of the fleeing vehicle entering their city.
Shortly after the pursuit was abandoned by the South Pasadena officer, an Alhambra police officer on patrol heard a loud collision in the area of Fremont Avenue and Orange Street, and began looking for the source. The officer found the Lexus involved in a single-vehicle rollover collision near the intersection of Fremont Avenue and Concord Avenue.
Three occupants were found inside the vehicle, and all three were taken to local hospitals with serious injuries. Although notified of the fleeing vehicle, the Alhambra Police Department never engaged in the pursuit of the fleeing Lexus.
The occupants have been identified as a 16-year-old male from Los Angeles, 28-year-old Elmer Contreras Robinson from Cudahy, and 25-year-old Alberto Avitia from Huntington Park. The Alhambra Police Department is assisting South Pasadena with the investigation of the traffic collision.
We encourage anyone with additional information to contact the South Pasadena Police Department at 626-403-7297. If you would like to provide an anonymous tip, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing: 800-222-TIPS(8477).
