Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, December 23, 2017

5 
Mountain View News Saturday, December 23, 2017 
5 
Mountain View News Saturday, December 23, 2017 
Man Beaten 
by PoliceSpeaks out 

 An Altadena man spoke 
out, for the first time, 
Wednesday after Pasadena 
Police released body-worn 
camera and dash cam 
video of the man being 
repeatedly stuck with a 
baton, breaking one of his 
legs, during a traffic stop 
Nov. 9 at an Altadena gas 
station.

 Christopher Ballew told 
reporters that he was filing 
a lawsuit against the city of 
Pasadena for undisclosed 
amount of money after he 
sustained a broken right 
leg and cut and bruises to 
his face. 

 Pasadena police said 
Ballew did not comply with 
their orders something 
Ballew contests. He said 
officers struck him with a 
baton before he grabbed it 
away something the video 
also shows. At one point 
officer draws his gun. 

At the time, Ballew was 
arrested for assault on an 
officer. The Los Angeles 
County District Attorney 
did not file any charges. 
Police said they made the 
initial traffic stop for no 
front license plate and 
tinted windows. 

Police also said Ballew, 
at first, was trying to walk 
away from them, although 
Ballew said he was getting 
gas at the station. 

 The police video was 
released Dec. 15 after City 
Manager Steve Mermell 
told the city council they 
would. Mermell also said 
he would reach out to the 
family. The incident first 
appeared on social media 
sparking public outcry. 

 Pasadena Public 
Information Officer 
William Boyer confirmed 
that officers Lerry Esparza 
and Zachary Lujan were 
involved. He also said the 
two remain on active duty.

 The lawsuit filed by the 
Law Offices of John Burton 
claims the officers violated 
Ballew civil rights ignoring 
police procedures and 
training. 

Pet of the 
Week 

 
Dasher (A447655) is an 
adorable, petite terrier mix. 
At 7 months old and 25 
pounds, This friendly and 
social pup is very playful 
with people. She especially 
enjoys romping around 
with her buddy Blitzen 
(A447656), a 3-year-old pit 
bull mix. In fact, Dasher 
and Blitzen are inseparable. 

 The adoption fee for dogs 
is $130. All dogs are spayed 
or neutered, microchipped, 
and vaccinated before going 
to their new home. 

 New adopters will receive a 
complimentary health-andwellness 
exam from VCA 
Animal Hospitals, as well 
as a goody bag filled with 
information about how to 
care for your pet.

 Call the Pasadena Humane 
Society & SPCA at (626) 
792-7151 to ask about 
A447655 & A447656, or 
visit at 361 S. Raymond 
Ave. in Pasadena. Adoption 
hours are 11 a.m. to 4 

p.m. Sunday; 9 a.m. to 
5 p.m. Tuesday through 
Friday; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
Saturday. 
Pets may not be available 
for adoption and cannot be 
held for potential adopters 
by phone calls or email. 
Directions and photos of 
all pets can be found at 
pasadenahumane.org.


Santa BringsNeeded Toysto Crime 
Victims

 Santa and Mrs. Claus landed 
Thursday in Pasadena’s North to Pasadena. 
Pole (Police Heliport) handing “We work with Peace over 
out gifts to children impacted Violence to address domestic 

by domestic violence. violence in our community 
“The Pasadena Air Operations all year. The children that are 
Division in coordination with associated with Peace over 
Peace over Violence is getting Violence, they might be victims 
toys to local families who would or see violence in the home; this 
not necessarily celebrate this gives us an opportunity to bring 

time of the year, Pasadena Chief holiday cheer, he said.

”
of Police Phillip Sanchez said.” Peace over Violence Legal 
This is very special to us.”Case Manager Selena Palma 
He said all the families are local said Santa and Mrs. Claus gave 

Gilbert and Sullivan’s 
Pirates Of Penzance


 Pasadena Playhouse, the 
State Theatre of California, 
reinvents its theatre to present 
Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates 
of Penzance, as reimagined by 
the Chicago theatre hooligans 
The Hypocrites. This wacky 
beach party – with flying beach 
balls, rubber duckies, ukuleles, 
banjos, plastic swimming 
pools, and a tiki bar – brings the 
audience on stage for a night 
they won’t forget.

 Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert 
and Sullivan is presented 
by Pasadena Playhouse 
in association with The 
Hypocrites. It is adapted and 
directed by Sean Graney; co-
adapted by Kevin O’Donnell 
and with music direction by 
Andra Velis Simon. It plays 
from January 23 to February 
18 (press opening is Thursday, 
January 25). 

 After a successful run in 
New York City and much 
critical acclaim (including 
New York Times Critic’s Pick), 
The Hypocrites have set out 
to take over Pasadena with 
this irreverent and playful 
adaptation that celebrates the 
music of Gilbert and Sullivan. 
With its sappy pirates, dewy-
eyed damsels, bumbling 
bobbies and a stuffy Major 
General, Gilbert and Sullivan’s 
hilarious and hopeful farce 
follows the story of young 
Frederic, an orphan who has 
mistakenly been apprenticed to 
an ineffectual but raucous band 
of pirates, as he disavows the 
pirates’ way of life and falls for 
the beautiful Mabel.

 In addition, the Pasadena 
Playhouse will be completely 
transforming the layout of the 
theatre for the first time in its 
history. All of the orchestra 
seats are being removed, and in 
its place there is a deck making 
the entire orchestra level of 
the theatre a playing area with 

actors and audience sharing 
the space promenade style: 
everyone brought together to 
create a fun, magical evening of 
theatre.

 “I remember listening to 
Pirates of Penzance the first 
time and thinking how brilliant 
it was,” said Director Sean 
Graney. He continues, “It is 
joyful, playful and welcoming, 
which was a perfect place 
to start to remove the walls 
between actors and audience 
and get rid of the pretense of 
theatre.”

 “This production is like 
nothing you have ever seen,” 
stated Producing Artistic 
Director Danny Feldman. 
“When I saw it, I knew I 
had to bring it to Pasadena. 
The Hypocrites adaptation 
of this play is completely in 
line with our artistic goal of 
looking at classics with fresh 
eyes. However, it presented 
a challenge: How to present 
a promenade style show in 
a proscenium theatre? The 
answer: Build a new stage! 
Patrons will be surprised 
and delighted as they enter 
the Playhouse and see what 
an amazing (temporary) 
transformation it has 
undergone. In our 100 year 
history, no one has ever seen 
the Playhouse used in this way.”

 That project has already been 
a hit everywhere it has played 
with critics and audiences 
alike: in Chicago, Berkeley, 
Olney, Maryland (Washington 
D.C.), Cambridge, Louisville, 
and currently New York. The 
Hypocrites were previously 
represented in Los Angeles with 
their production of Our Town 
directed by David Cromer and 
starring Helen Hunt at The 
Broad Stage.

 Tickets are now on sale at 
pasadenaplayhouse.org or by 
calling 626-356-7529. 

ALTADENA POLICE BLOTTER 


Monday, December 11th

1:15 PM – A residential 
burglary occurred in the 
500 block of E. Poppyfields 
Drive. Suspect(s) entered 
the residence by shattering 
the sliding glass door. 
Stolen: passports. 
4:00 PM – A petty theftoccurred in the 600 block of 
W. Altadena Drive. Stolen: 
brown and white Michael 
Kors purse.
5:57 PM – A stolen vehicle 
occurred in the 3000 block 
of Lincoln Avenue. Vehicle 
described as a green 2005 
Chevrolet Tahoe. 
6:30 PM – A vehicle 
vandalism occurred in the 
2300 block of El Molino 
Avenue. Suspect(s) damaged 
the vehicle door handle. 
Tuesday, December 12th

1:00 PM – A grand theft from 
a vehicle occurred in the 
1700 block of N. Altadena 
Drive. Stolen: various 
Canon cameras, lens, and 
memory cards. 

2:19 PM – An assault with 
a deadly weapon occurred 
in the 700 block of E. 
Sacramento Street. Suspect 
has been identified and 
investigation is on-going. 
5:15 PM – Ismael Garcia, 
38 years of Los Angeles 
was arrested in the 2800 
block of N. Lake Avenue for 
possession of a controlled 
substance. 
5:50 PM – Kevin Eldridge, 
55 years old of La Puente 
was arrested in the area 
of Fair Oaks Avenue and 
Mountain View Street for 
taking a vehicle without the 
owner’s consent. Vehicle 
was recovered and released 
to the owner. 
Wednesday, Dec. 13th

3:30 PM – A vehicle was 
reported stolen from the 900 
block of E. Wapello Street. 
Vehicle described as a blue 
1998 Honda CRV. 
gifts to about 40 families. The 
families were chosen by the 
Case Managers. This is the fifth 
year of giving toys she said. 

Photos by D. Lee/MVNews 

Phone Scam 
Warning inAltadena/
Pasadena

 Impersonators are

asking for money to 

prevent arrest. 

 This is a warning to 
everyone about sheriff /
police impersonators calling 
residents and saying, “There is 
a warrant out for your arrest, 
and if you don’t pay up, you’ll 
be arrested.”

 An Altadena resident was 
called at their house by a man 
from 626 area code, local 
phone number, saying at he 
was a L.A. County Sheriff ’s 
Deputy. The deputy told our 
resident they had two warrants 
for arrest for missing jury duty. 
They also said a $1000 cash 
bond was needed to be paid, 
or they would be arrested. 

 The Los Angeles County 
Sheriff ’s Department will not 
call you to demand money 
for arrest warrants. If you are 
contacted over the phone and 
are suspicious, ask for the 
callers name and employee 
number and call our station, 

(626) 798-1131 or whichever 
police department they are 
representing and ask to verify 
the information. 
If the caller tells you to put 
money on a prepaid card and 
give him the card number. 
Now your scam-detecting 
radar is going off the charts. 
Police departments — and the 
federal government, for that 
matter — don’t tell people to 
pay with prepaid cards. You 
also know using a prepaid card 
is like paying cash — once the 
money is gone, you can’t get it 
back.

 More sophisticated scammers 
may have caller ID that shows 
the local police departments 
name. It may seem like 
reliable information about the 
source of a call isn’t so reliable 
anymore.

 Scammers can rig caller ID 
to look like they’re calling 
from the police department. 
Or, really, anywhere — even 
your own number. Don’t rely 
on caller ID. It’s not foolproof. 
Scammers can easily spoof it 
to try to gain your trust. If it 
looks like the police are calling, 
call our non-emergency phone 
number (626) 798-1131 and 
call to find out if the story is 
legit. You’ll soon learn it’s a 
scam.

 Report the imposter to the 
Federal Trade Commission at 
ftc.gov/complaint Select the 
category “Scams and Rip-offs” 
then “Impostor Scams”. 

Royal Tea
Party at the
Library


 Future kings, queens, princes 
and princesses, come dressed 

in your finery for a very special 

visit from the 2018 Tournament 
of Roses Rose Queen and 
Royal Court. The court will 
share their favorite princess 
stories and recent New Year’s 
experiences. Bring a camera 
and a smile to pose with 
royalty.
Saturday, Jan. 13 • 2-3:30 p.m.

• Hastings Branch 3325 east 
Orange Grove Boulevard. 
Holiday Safety Reminders



you, make sure they stay 

 The City of Pasadena close at all times and they 
provides the following know to go immediately to a 
tips and reminders to help store clerk or security officer 
ensure you have an enjoyable for help if they become 
Holiday Season.separated.

 Above all, use common Keep valuables out of 

sense, celebrate responsibly, sight while stored in your 

always designate a driver if car. Keep doors locked and 

you plan to drink alcohol, windows up when parked. 

drive defensively and, please, Always have your keys out 

if you see something, say and ready to use to get into 

something by calling (626) your car. Be alert as you 

744-4241, or 9-1-1 for life-exit and return to your car. 

threatening emergencies. In Keep your car in good repair 

addition, our Police, Fire, and ready for bad weather if 

Public Health and Water & taking a holiday trip.

Power Departments provide Getting packages delivered? 

the following additional Track them, require a 

suggestions.signature—or ask a neighbor 

 When out shopping for to help, or agree to help 

those last-minute gifts and your neighbor. Going out 

food items, always be aware of town? Put a hold on mail 

of your surroundings. Keep and send packages to a mail 

an eye on your wallet, purse, facility for later pickup. Keep 

credit cards, receipts and lights on a timer.

don’t flash a lot of cash! Ask For your holiday meals, 

for help if carrying a lot of make sure hot food stays hot 

packages to your car; or and cold food stays cold. If 

walking alone at night and in doubt, don’t serve it. Be 

avoid parking in isolated sure to keep an eye on your 

spots.guests’ alcohol consumption. 

 If possible, have your Getting someone a taxi 

children stay with a trusted or a shared ride is cheap 

family member, friend or compared to the loss of a 

babysitter while you go out life, lawsuits and drunken 

shopping, especially if you driving arrests.

plan to go to crowded malls The holidays can be an 

or shopping centers. If you incredibly stressful time for 

do take your children with many people. 

Free Christmas 
Tree Recycling


 Make tree recycling a part of 
your post-holiday tradition. 
The City offers an easy way 
for you to “Go Green” with 
your Christmas tree. Thanks 
to your help, the City last From Jan. 2-12, 2018, 


year collected more than residents can also place trees 

10,000 trees for recycling, at curbside for recycling. 
saving valuable landfill space Christmas trees will be 
and generating protective collected on your normal 
landscaping mulch.service day.

 Drop off your tree from 7 Remember, all ornaments, 

a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday Dec. lights and stands must 
26, 2017 until Thursday, Jan. be removed. Flocked 
4 at:
and fire retardant treated 

• Easton Blanche Park, 3100 trees are acceptable. For 
E. Del Mar Blvd., parking lot more information, call the 
on Millicent WayCitizen Service Center at 
• Robinson Park, 1081 N. (626) 744-7311 or online at 
Fair Oaks Ave., parking lot www. cityofpasaadena.net/
on Morton Street publicworks. 

Free Events Roundup at thePasadena Senior Center

 There is something for 
everyone in December 
at the Pasadena Senior 
Center, 85 E. Holly St. 
You do not have to be a 
member to attend. Some 
events require advance 
reservations as noted.

 Stay Connected withSocial Media – Tuesdaysand Thursdays to Dec. 28,
from 9 to 11 a.m. Learn how 
to keep in touch with familyand friends via the Internet. 
Choose which application 
you would like to learn, fromSkype to Facebook andother forms of social media. 
Bring a laptop or use of the 
onsite computers. If youhave an email address, 
bring it along with your 
password. Sign up at the 
Welcome Desk or call 626795-
4331 for a 30-minute 
one-on-session. 

A Toast to the Joys ofMusic – Tuesdays to Dec.
28, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Tom Campbell will play 
guitar and sing songs in the 
Senior Center Lounge. Stopby and enjoy his covers of 
traditional country, country 
rock, blues, folk, gospel and 
classic rock originally made 
famous by Willie Nelson, 
Merle Haggard, Vince Gill,
Elvis Presley, B.B. King, Neil 
Young, The Grateful Dead,
The Rolling Stones and 

many more.

Scenic Walkers Club – 
Wednesdays to Dec. 27,
at 10 a.m. Enjoy a series 
of leisurely walks in the 
great outdoors at locations 
throughout the west San 
Gabriel Valley. Alan Colville 
will give you a list of items to 
bring, let you know what to 
expect, provide detailed 
itineraries and arrange 
transportation. For more 
information or to sign up, 
email alancolville@charter. 
net.

 Domino Club – Thursdays,
to Dec, 28, at 1 p.m. New 
and experienced players 
will enjoy a rollicking 
version of Chicken Foot 
Dominoes that will have 
everyone cracking up! For 
more information call Vicki 
Leigh at 928-478-4654.

 For more 
information visit www. 
pasadenaseniorcenter. 
org or call 626-795-4331.

 Founded in 1960, the 
Pasadena Senior Center 
is an independent 
nonprofit organization 
that offers recreational,
educational, wellness 
and social services to 
people ages 50 and 
older in a welcoming 
environment. Services are 
also provided for frail, low-
income and homebound 
seniors.

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com