Citizens Recognized for Doing Right Thing Despite Risks

The night Studio City resident Rene Navarro went to the aid of his neighbor, actress Anna Nicole Smith, he had hoped to persuade the man trying to enter her house to leave.

Instead, Smith’s 6-foot-5, 230-pound former boyfriend turned stalker punched, kicked and threatened to kill Navarro.

Though the assault left Navarro, 59, with broken fingers, head injuries and other wounds, his willingness to intervene convinced L.A. County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley to make him one of three recipients of the Courageous Citizen Awards in a ceremony Wednesday at the Pasadena Hilton.

Also honored was 8-year-old Mary Lou Posadas, who was a key witness for the prosecution in the fatal shooting of her stepfather. The third honoree was Glen Hurtado, 57, for his role in the capture and conviction of three bank robbers.

Now in their 19th year, the awards are given annually to people who, despite risk, help a crime victim or assist in the capture of a suspect or who testify under extraordinary pressure. The awards recognize the “highest form of community service,” Cooley said.

Smith’s ex-boyfriend Mark Hatten had been following her for several months following their breakup, she told police. When he called on March 25, 2002, to say he was coming over armed, Smith’s personal assistant called Navarro and asked him to come over, along with his 50-pound pitbull, Wedo. Navarro had no leash for the dog, so he came over alone.

Navarro chatted with Hatten for more than 15 minutes, hoping to keep him distracted until police arrived. But soon Hatten grew angry and the assault began.

Still, Navarro said Wednesday, “I’d do it again.”

Last month, Hatten was sentenced to six years and eight months in prison on three felony counts.

The testimony of the second award winner, Mary Lou, then 7, helped lead to a conviction of first-degree murder, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Alison Matsumodo.

Mary Lou was playing outside in April when she saw Jimmar Salgado go into her apartment.

Minutes later, she heard gunshots and found her stepfather in a pool of blood.

“Though she was traumatized by the shooting, she was able to say what happened,” Matsumodo said.

In August, Hurtado knew what it meant when he saw red dye staining what looked like a pillowcase in the arms of two men walking down the street.

“I knew the only people who use red dye were banks,” he said.

Following the men in his car, Hurtado watched as they tried to pass the money, now in an ice chest, to two women.

“The two girls looked at me, saw I was watching, and put the ice chest on the sidewalk,” Hurtado recalled.

The men were arrested a short while later, and all the money was recovered.