Roundup Staff
Editor’s Note: This article has been edited.
Dr. Drew Pinsky’s alleged stalker, Charles Pearson, 33, was detained on Pierce College’s campus yesterday afternoon.
Pinksy is famous for his show on VH1, “Celebrity Rehab” and as one of the hosts of KROQ’s “Love Line.”
The suspect was in hand cuffs when a Roundup reporter approached him and rambled about being on the KROQ show.
“I’m the guy they stun gunned on the KROQ show,” said Pearson, as he ws being arrested.
Pearson was found in the library with a backpack containing clothes, according to Deputy Al Guerrero, one of the deputies to detain him. The sheriffs also confiscated syringes, a lanyard and a thick stack of cash from him.
Guerrero said his department received information from the Pasadena Police Department that Pearson was on campus. According to them, Pearson had posted on his blog that he was on the Pierce campus.
The PPD sent the sheriffs the man’s wanted poster and sheriffs began to spot-check the campus. Sheriffs recognized him in the library and detained him outside in a patrol car until the Pasadena police arrived.
The Pasadena police have seized the computer Pearson was using at the time of his discovery, according to Mark Henderson, manager of College Information Systems.
Guerrero said that this was possible because of good communication between law enforcement agencies.
“We worked together to get another bad guy off the street,” said Guerrero.
Guerrero couldn’t remember any other times that an incident like this has happened.
Sheriff’s Deputy Ronald Nohles confirmed that the suspect was not a Pierce student.
“It’s good it’s safe here,” said Sally Rivas, 18, a Pierce student.
Kashmir Hughes, 19, was in front of the library hanging out with their friends when the arrest occurred.
She said three squad cars pulled up in front of the library and approximately six deputies spread out to all entrances of the building, with hands on their holsters, and entered.
“It looked like there might have been a bomb threat,” said Hughes.
After a few minutes, the deputies escorted a man outside in handcuffs and placed him in the back of a squad car.
Jim Seymour, 21, was also in the library when Pearson was being detained.
“We have had very few incidents like this, fortunately,” said Florence Robin, Library Department Chair. “The library is located far away from the street on the inside of campus. Access is limited.”
James Ramsgard, 32, a student, said that he was glad Pearson was caught.
“I hope he gets punished accordingly,” said Ramsgard.
UPDATE 2:55 p.m.: According to Janet Pope-Givens, the Pasadena Police Department Public Information Officer, Pearson’s $150,000 bail has been revoked.
Lt. Tracey Ibarra of the PPD confirmed that he has been charged with stalking and the District Attorney may seek further charges when the case is presented to them in a day or so.
UPDATE 10:10 p.m.: Interim President Dr. Joy McCaslin said that she was “proud of the way the Pierce Sheriff’s Deputies, under new Team Leader Ron Nohles, handled this incident. They efficiently resolved the situation and I appreciate their consistent efforts to keep our campus safe.“
More information will be provided as it becomes available.
*Information compiled by Emily Kelley. Reporting by Brit Sharon, Helen Ramirez, Dan Cromar, Tyler McGee, Jeff Sandstoe, Travis Vail, David Schub, Andre Fuller, and Emily Kelley.
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(From left to right) Sheriff’s Team Leader Ron Nohles and Deputy Al Guerrero detain Charles Pearson, an alleged stalker, outside the library on March 3. Pearson is scheduled to appear at the Pasadena Superior Court tomorrow at 8 (Brit Sharon / Roundup )
Pearson waits in the back of a patrol car after being detained by campus sheriffs. He is suspected of sending threatening messages to celebrity doctor Drew Pinsky, according to TMZ.com. (Brit Sharon / Roundup)
