Sex molesting suspect nabbed in Alhambra: Quick-witted young girl’s cell phone pic key to arrest

A man who was wanted in Alhambra on suspicion of felony child molestation was arrested in that city Thursday — a day after he allegedly asked a girl walking on a South Pasadena street if she needed a ride and she took a picture of his car, police said.

The molestation suspect’s car was pulled over by an officer based on information from the girl’s cell phone picture.

Edwin Linares, 43, of Alhambra was taken into custody about 7 a.m. by a South Pasadena officer who was in Alhambra conducting an investigation and who recognized the car he was driving, the South Pasadena Police Department reported. The two cities are located next to each other.

According to police, the  girl was walking in front of South Pasadena Middle School, 1600 Oak St., about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday when she noticed a man driving a red Toyota Corolla slowly near her, police said.

“The male drove ahead of the juvenile and stopped at the intersection of Marengo Avenue and Oak Street,” a police statement said. “He asked (her) if she needed a ride. After she refused the ride, the male asked her again. The juvenile then pulled out her cell phone and took a picture of the suspect vehicle, which fled eastbound on Oak Street.”

The girl described the man as Hispanic, about 30-35 years old, with a thin build, medium complexion, black wavy hair and a goatee. Thursday morning, a South Pasadena officer saw the car, pulled it over and arrested Linares.

Police Thursday decline to release the girl’s age. And no details about the Alhambra child molestation case were immediately released.

—City News Service