Threats land man in jail

By Christina L. Esparza
Daily Forty-Niner

HAWAIIAN GARDENS -- A 72-year-old man was arrested Thursday for making "verbal threats to several students" at an elementary school located behind his house, said Lt. Mike Barnum, a spokesman for the Lakewood Sheriff's Department.

Children at Hawaiian Gardens Elementary School saw Joseph Pasillas wearing what they described as a "clown suit," while handling a gun, said Lt. Randy Hausauer from the Long Beach Police Department.

Pasillas, a gun enthusiast, was actually on his property wearing a multi-colored baseball cap and very large sunglasses, which may have made him look like a clown, Hausauer said.

A chain-link fence separates Pasillas' home and the school. His is the only house on the street that does not have an additional barrier.

The students told school authorities what they saw, and for precautionary measures the police evacuated the school and blocked off Courtner Ave. and Tula Street, which adjoin the school and Pasillas' home.

Pasillas, who left his home after the children saw him, was standing outside a police barrier, waiting to get into his home and said he did not know why the police were there.

"In situations like this, they're pretty closed-mouthed, like they should be." Pasillas said.

Although Pasillas did not commit a crime, he was booked for making terrorist threats, which is a felony, because police said he verbally threatened the children the day before.

His bail is set at $50,000.

Ironically, Lt. Hausauer said he was a player on a baseball team Pasillas used to coach.

According to Sgt. Steve Feoglio of the LBPD, Pasillas coached a team on Blair Field at Cal State Long Beach, although he did not confirm whether or not he was a coach for the LBSU Dirtbags.

Vicky Togia, an employee at the school, is also the second cousin to Pasillas' wife, who is bed-ridden with arthritis, Togia said. She came to the scene to make sure she was safe.

"I don't know anything about that man," Togia said.