Pasadena police give inside look at everyday operations

PASADENA, TX (KTRK) -- Tensions between the public and police have escalated around the country. Patrol officers say something that may seem simple like issuing a warrant can turn dangerous quickly. Eyewitness News followed Pasadena police as they worked their felony warrant and family violence program.

The assignments can be unpredictable and the danger can be around the corner at any minute. Pasadena police go down their new daily list to serve felony and family violence warrants. The first man is wanted on a family violence assault.

Officer Mike Cooper tells us from his patrol car "the subject we're going after assaulted his girlfriend."

As he radios to his fellow officers, he says the men they are looking for this morning should not ignore the warrant "because it's not going to go away."

Sgt. James Anderson says, "We'll go make a concerted effort to get them as soon as possible because we don't want anything to escalate."

As police approach the first apartment, the man they are looking for comes to the door.

Officer Cooper says, "Sorry to bother you but we've got a warrant for your arrest."

The young man tries to come outside but Pasadena police order him to keep his hands up. He is cooperative as they check his clothing and handcuff him but he denies doing anything wrong. He says he is fighting the assault charges and "all that information is false."

The next stop is a few blocks away.

Pasadena Police are working with Harris County on a warrant for two counts of indecency with a child. After observing the house and talking with Harris County, several cruisers move in. Police knock and find the man is there but there is a woman and several children inside. He gives himself up.

At roll call every morning, assignments are handed out and the day can be unpredictable.

Sgt. Anderson says, "Especially these days with the anti-police sentiment that is so rampant around the country. It's really dangerous."

Another stop doesn't yield an arrest but the grandmother of the man they are looking for talks to police after opening the garage door. She tells them her grandson has not lived there in a while and invites police to search the home themselves to see.

Sgt. Anderson says, "We're taking the bad guys off the street. It's very hard to commit a crime in the city of Pasadena if you're doing time in the Harris County jail."

Since the program started last year, the department made 165 felony arrests in Pasadena.