Dan Watson

The Pasadena Star-News says Chief Watson still plans to retire, in spite of the strong support he’s received from the community.

To put this whole thing in perspective, Burbank Police Chief Tim Stehr announced his resignation in November. Why? Maybe it had something to do with an FBI investigation into civil-rights violations by the department. Maybe it was the public suicide of one of his officers. Maybe it was the scores of current and former officers who cast a vote of no confidence in their chief. And Stehr got a party when he left.

Now let’s look at why Watson is retiring. There aren’t any investigations. Crime is down more than 20 percent since he took the job. Five years before his hiring, the South Pas Police Department was making news for covering up hit-and-runs and screwing on duty. Quite a turnaround. He has strong public support, but members of the city council, backed by the South Pasadena Police Officer’s Assn., are asking for a review of the police department.

If somebody knows why, I’d love to hear it.

This is interesting: There were three arrests for soliciting without a permit last week. One suspect is from Illinois, one is from Arizona, and the third is from Oklahoma. With the influx of grifters, it’s worth posting some tips from the South Pas Police Department:

We continue to see door-to-door solicitors selling newspapers and magazine subscriptions. These solicitors are often young teenagers who sometimes say they are from the local school. Most annoying is that solicitors will come at all hours of the day, even late at night. Burglars may also pose as a door-to-door solicitor to see if anyone is home and if they receive no answer, will go to the side or rear of the house to look for a way in.

Remember that South Pasadena Municipal Code 10.2, requires all door-to-door solicitors to have a city permit. Each solicitor must have it in their possession, so always ask to see it. If a solicitor cannot show you a permit, politely refuse and close the door, then immediately call the police. Here are some other tips to remember:

• Hours of solicitation are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday; Sunday from noon to 8 p.m.
• In addition to asking to see a city permit, ask to see their employment identification.
• If you make a purchase, always get an address and phone number of the organization so you can verify the company.
• No person younger than 16 is permitted to solicit money for non-profit or religious causes.
• You can call the city’s Licensing Department at 626-403-7257 during normal business hours to verify a city permit.
• Don’t give into any high pressure sales pitch.
• Never let a solicitor inside your house.

Full police report after the jump. Read more »

Via the MTA’s blog:

At approximately 1:08 p.m. northbound Metro Gold Line train and auto collided at Glenarm crossing north of Mission Station. Car overturned and is currently blocking both tracks. One person in the auto reported injured. Southbound trains turning back from Del Mar and northbound trains turning back at Mission.

So far, no injuries have been reported from Gold Line passengers. *Update: “One male in the auto was transported to a local hospital; two passengers from the train were treated at the scene and released.”

Here it is: All the police reports for December and January cobbled together into one massive tome. Get comfy. Be sure to stretch your legs every once in a while. The carjacking arrest made the Pasadena Star-News, tho they failed to mention the armed man was carrying a pellet gun. And if you’re interested, here’s a composite sketch [pdf] of the suspect in the most recent episode of “Child Annoyance.” Full police report after the jump. Read more »

Via the South Pas Chamber of Commerce: “Dr. Richard Schneider will be on hand for a Chamber of Commerce Book Launch and Meet ‘n Greet on Wednesday, Jan. 27, at 7 p.m. Come one, come all to the Community Room in South Pasadena. There will be wine and cheese, mingling and a brief presentation by the mayor. Our own little ‘State of the City’ impromptu report, of sorts. And we’ll launch SouthPas Connections, our 2010 Business Directory and Community Guide.”

Now that it’s become clear South Pas Police Chief Dan Watson has strong support from residents, city officials are having second thoughts about pushing him out the door, with City Manager John Davidson promising to make a decision independent from the council.

I hate playing catch up like this, and I have no one to blame but myself. A belated roundup of stories on Chief Dan Watson’s predicament after the jump. Read more »

So yeah, The Ostrich Feeder has been silent for over a month. There are a few decent reasons and a few lazy reasons, but the major culprit is Chantry Flat. Or, more accurately, Big Santa Anita Canyon.

If you’ve ever hiked back there, you know there are more than 80 cabins sprinkled back in the canyon. Late last year we became the proud owners of one of them. There’s no electricity, no phone service … definitely no Internet. None of the cabins are accessible by road. In fact, the only way to get supplies to your cabin is to pack it in yourself or have the Pack Station at Chantry Flat bring it in by mule. Basically, this cabin rocks. And I’ve been spending every spare second I have up there.

Still, I don’t plan to give up on The Ostrich Feeder. And I hope to strike a balance between my inner Luddite and the sometimes blogger. Give it a week, and let me know if you think the posting is too sporadic. And next time I ignore something big, like, um, Chief Watson resigning, feel free to slap me.

More on the cabins can be found here.

A refreshingly light week for crime. Even the reported assault is pretty benign. Full police report after the jump. Read more »

The big news is, of course, the first homicide in South Pas in three years. The victim has been identified as Noe Martinez-Quinone, 35, of Guatemala. Full police report after the jump. Read more »