Juan Pablo Flores, 33, appeared in court for the first time on Tuesday after being charged in connection with the attacked a woman at the Metro A Line’s Allen Station.
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were called to the Metro station on August 7th at around 5:30 a.m. in response to an unprovoked attack where a woman was punched multiple times.
According to authorities, the suspect was apprehended without any trouble at the intersection of Allen Avenue and Villa Street by personnel from the Sheriff’s Transit Bureau.
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The woman was admitted to a hospital and her condition was reported as stable last week.
District Attorney George Gascón expressed his heartfelt support for the victim and her family as she embarks on her path to recovery after experiencing this dreadful assault. In a statement, he emphasized that nobody should have to endure such brutality and everyone deserves to feel safe while going about their daily lives. Gascón further asserted that violence on the transit system will not be tolerated, and those responsible for such crimes will be held fully accountable.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger recently praised the transit deputies for their swift response.
In a statement, Barger emphasized the urgent need to address safety concerns, both on the Metro train system and at stations, using the recent incident as a compelling example.
Barger expressed her expectation for a comprehensive report from Metro regarding the security measures to be implemented for ensuring safety, particularly during the early morning commute hours.
The authorities have confirmed that the man and the victim were not acquainted with each other, stating that the incident was entirely random.
“Our Metro board has already implemented a number of measures to enhance public safety, such as the enforcement of fares. However, it is clear to me that the challenges faced by our Metro system commuters are still significant and cannot be overlooked,” expressed Barger.
Fellow County Supervisor Janice Hahn, who also serves on the Metro Board of Directors along with Barger, expressed her concern about the alarming incident that took place at the Allen Station in Pasadena. Hahn acknowledged the disturbing nature of the attack against a woman and expressed her relief that the victim is recovering and the suspect has been apprehended.
“Our board must conduct a comprehensive investigation into this incident, ensuring accountability for the whereabouts of both Metro’s contracted law enforcement and transit security during the attack on this woman. Additionally, we need to develop a strategic plan to enhance security measures during the early morning commuting hours. It is imperative that our trains, buses, and stations provide a safe environment for our riders, and we must persistently implement safety reforms to achieve this goal.”
According to jail records, Flores has been in custody since his arrest, which took place less than an hour after the attack.
He is expected to appear in a Pasadena courtroom on October 9th. During this hearing, a date will be set to determine whether there is enough evidence to proceed with the case and take it to trial.
If Flores is found guilty, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office has stated that he could potentially be sentenced to life in prison.
