Man Found Sleeping in South Pasadena Playground Suspected of Mail Theft

SOUTH PASADENA (CNS) - A 19-year-old man found sleeping in a children's playground in South Pasadena was being investigated by U.S. Postal inspectors after stolen mail was found in his backpack, authorities said today.

South Pasadena officers went to Orange Grove Park around 9:45 a.m. Monday in response to a report of a suspicious man sleeping in the playground area while children and their parents were present, according to Sgt. Spencer Louie.

Officers contacted Maynor Rosales of Los Angeles, who was slightly disoriented and couldn't explain to the officers why he was sleeping there, Louie said. Rosales admitted to officers he had prior arrests for narcotics possession, prompting officers to suspect he had narcotics on him, according to Louie.

A police dog was summoned and the dog detected a presence of narcotics in Rosales' backpack, Louie said.

A search of the backpack uncovered cocaine, two master mailbox keys, and stolen property and mail from Los Angeles and Pasadena, Louie said, adding that miniature tool kits thought to be burglary tools also were recovered.

During further questioning, Rosales admitted he stole the mail from Los Angeles and was using the tool kits to learn how to make counterfeit master mailbox keys, known as arrow keys, which would have given him access to numerous multi-unit mailboxes, Louie said.

Rosales was arrested on suspicion of narcotics possession and mail theft, police said, but he has since being released from jail.

Based on the evidence recovered, U.S. Postal inspectors were notified to take over the investigation, Louie said.

City News Service; Photo: Shutterstock