Pasadena Man Rammed Patrol Cars In Wild chase: Prosecutors

LOS ANGELES, CA — A Pasadena man who allegedly struck a Montebello police vehicle with his car and tried to hit another patrol unit while being chased by officers last Saturday is facing assault and other felony charges.

Tom Rojas, 37, is awaiting a March 25 hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to require him to stand trial on two felony counts of assault upon a peace officer and one felony count each of fleeing a pursuing peace officer's vehicle while driving recklessly and vandalism causing more than $400 in damage, along with one misdemeanor count of hit-and-run driving resulting in property damage.

The criminal complaint alleges that Rojas has four prior convictions dating back to 2000 for various crimes, including robbery.

Rojas allegedly drove his vehicle into a glass door at a store in the 1600 block of Town Center Drive in Montebello in the early morning hours Saturday and fled from officers, who spotted the vehicle a short time later at Paramount and Whittier boulevards in Pico Rivera.

During the nearly hourlong chase on surface streets, Rojas allegedly struck one Montebello police vehicle with his car and tried to hit another one, but no officers were injured.

An officer-involved shooting occurred at Whittier Boulevard and Alma Avenue in East Los Angeles, but Rojas was not hit, authorities said. He was arrested after driving onto a dead-end street.

Rojas -- who pleaded not guilty Tuesday afternoon -- remains jailed in lieu of $170,000 bail.

He could face up to eight years and two months behind bars if convicted as charged, according to the District Attorney's Office.

City News Service