Pasadena Man, 73, Charged In Bizarre Attacks

PASADENA, CA — Criminal charges were filed Thursday against a 73-year-old man accused of slashing a woman's neck and trying to rob another woman less than two hours earlier in Pasadena.

Lance Semkus of Pasadena refused to appear in court Thursday and is now tentatively scheduled to be arraigned Friday at the Pasadena courthouse on one felony count each of attempted murder, mayhem and attempted second-degree robbery, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

He is additionally charged with two felony counts of cruelty to an animal involving two dogs that were found dead inside his residence, according to Santiago.

Semkus allegedly confronted one woman about 4 p.m. Monday in the 3300 block of Sierra Madre Villa Avenue, but sped off when a witness saw what was happening and came to the victim's aid.

About 90 minutes later, he allegedly approached a woman from behind as she sat against a retaining wall in the 600 block of South Arroyo Parkway and attacked her without provocation, slashing her neck area with a knife, according to police.

The suspect again fled in the SUV that had been left in a nearby parking lot, but witnesses gave police descriptions of both the suspect and the vehicle.

A helicopter unit spotted the SUV in the area of California Boulevard and Fair Oaks Avenue and directed officers to the location, where Semkus was detained without incident. A knife was recovered and Semkus was positively identified by witnesses, and arrested, police said.

City News Service