Woman With Pick Axe Smashes Newly Built Home As Baby Slept On Other Side Of Window In Pasadena

PASADENA, Calif. (KABC) -- A family who recently moved into their new home in Pasadena is now fearing for their safety after a woman armed with a pickax randomly appeared at their doorstep and began smashing their windows - and it was all caught on video.

It happened in the 1700 block of Asbury Drive at around 5 p.m. on Monday.

Homeowner Arman Tchoukadarian told Eyewitness News his mother-in-law was babysitting his 6-week-old daughter at the time, who was sleeping by a window.

The video shows the woman - who has since been identified by police as 65-year-old Beverly Baker - walk up to the property and begins swinging the pickax. She smashes several windows as she walks through the porch. You can also hear a woman scream in the background.

When officers arrived to the home, Baker was gone, according to police.

Neighbors helped officers track her down. After a 30-minute standoff, Baker was taken into custody.

Tchoukadarian said Baker destroyed a total of eight windows. Now, their home is boarded up as they stay with family at another location.

"It doesn't appear there was any relation between the suspect, Mrs. Baker, and the victims," said Commander Bill Grisafe with Pasadena Police. He said it appears Baker was "suffering some type of mental health crisis," though that has not been confirmed.

Police have estimated the amount in damages caused by Baker totals to about $20,000.

"Everyone's still shaken up," said Tchoukadarian. "We bought this house from scratch. We put all our savings into this house because it's a nice neighborhood. We grew up here, and this is how we get welcome to the neighborhood."

Baker's arraignment is set for Wednesday.

Tchoukadarian said he's trying to file a restraining order against her as fast as possible.