San Marino Police officers arrested three suspects early Monday morning after they were spotted by a neighbor near a residence in the 2700 block of Cumberland Road. Another is still at large after crashing a getaway car on San Gabriel Blvd. and escaping on foot.
The ordeal began at approximately 7:10 a.m. when an observant neighbor contacted the San Marino Police Department regarding a possible burglary in progress. The resident reported seeing four males adorned in hooded sweatshirts getting out of a black BMW and entering the backyard of a neighboring residence.
San Marino Police Officers responded to the area and located the BMW leaving the area at a high rate of speed on Gainsborough Drive. A short distance away, the driver lost control of the BMW and crashed at the intersection of San Gabriel Boulevard and Gainsborough Drive. The driver was immediately taken into custody, while a second suspect fled the scene on foot and was not located.
While investigating the scene of the collision, the San Marino Police Department received a call that additional suspects were seen running through yards on Cumberland Road. Officers responded to the area and located the two suspects as they jumped into a rear yard near the 2800 block of Huntington Drive. A containment was established and additional resources were requested from neighboring agencies. Among those responding were officers from Alhambra, Pasadena, South Pasadena, Arcadia and San Gabriel. The Pasadena Police helicopter and two K-9 officers also responded. A yard-to-yard search was conducted and two suspects were apprehended without further incident.
Two juveniles were arrested for attempted residential burglary along with Jourhiness Morrow, 20, of Lancaster. The fourth suspect who fled the wrecked car is still unaccounted for. Jourhiness has been charged with delaying and interfering with a police investigation. There are currently no charges against the juveniles, according to San Marino Police Chief John Incontro, who also said that technicians are close to identifying the fourth suspect who fled from the accident scene.
But the drama was not contained within the search area. Nearby San Marino High School underwent an advisory to “shelter in place” as many students and staff members were already on campus for Zero Period classes, which are held from 7:00 a.m. until 7:50 a.m. Other educational institutions, including Sts. Felicitas & Perpetua, Carver Elementary School and Clairbourn School were also immediately made aware of the search. SMHS Principal Issaic Gates was joined on campus by Superintendent Jeff Wilson and other administrators and the start of school was delayed until 12:00 noon.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with additional information is asked to contact the SMPD’s Detective Cordischi at (626) 300-0726.
