School Police Officer to Be Charged Next Week
A Pasadena school police officer who was arrested after authorities said a hidden video camera showed him rifling through a desk and attempting to crack a safe at Pasadena High School won’t be formally charged until next week.
Michael Babb, 38, of Pomona was released on $15,000 bail late Wednesday from the Pasadena jail after his arrest Tuesday on suspicion of commercial burglary. Even before he made bail, Babb was fired by the Pasadena Unified School District.
Authorities said Babb’s release reduces pressure for prosecutors to file criminal charges immediately.
Thomas Krag, a deputy district attorney in the special investigation division, said he does not expect to file charges until next week, when he will formally receive the case from the Pasadena Police Department.
Investigators served a search warrant at Babb’s home Tuesday night and are conducting further investigations.
Pasadena Police Lt. Keith Jones said the department is looking into whether a string of other burglaries at school campuses are tied to Babb. The officer was captured on videotape shortly before 6 a.m. Sunday entering the student business office, an area off-limits even to campus police, Jones said.
Jones said Babb is also seen on the tape forcing open a door to an inner office, taking out a plastic bag and putting something in it.
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