Pasadena Star News

Police arrest man in road-rage death.
Victim not involved in altercation.
By Brian Day, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 02/18/2008 10:54:59 PM PST

A man was arrested Sunday on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter stemming from a road rage-related crash that killed a man in Pasadena last year, officials said.

Tracy Alan Bartlett, 44, of Encino was arrested about 1p.m. as he was trying to cross into the United States from Mexico at the San Ysidro border crossing, U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Vince Bond said.

A warrant for Bartlett's arrest was issued last week after police finished their investigation into an Oct. 26, 2007, crash that killed 62-year-old Ronald Slusser of La Crescenta, said Pasadena police Lt. Randell Taylor.

According to CBP, Bartlett showed a valid U.S. passport and was arrested when his name was checked against a law enforcement database.

Bartlett likely had no idea he was a wanted man when he presented his passport to officials at the border, Taylor said. Police were planning to try to arrest Bartlett at his home this weekend, he added.

Bartlett was driving his 2000 Lexus RX 300 on Walnut Street near Pasadena Avenue prior to the fatal crash, said Taylor. The suspect allegedly became involved in an altercation with another driver travelling parallel to him on Walnut Street, he said.

Bartlett allegedly sped ahead of the other car, then made a u-turn and drove directly toward it, Taylor said. The suspect then swerved at the last moment to avoid hitting the other car, he said.

Bartlett's small sport utility vehicle then drove through a red light at the intersection of Walnut Street and Pasadena Avenue and crashed into Slusser's BMW 540i.

Slusser, who Taylor described as an "innocent bystander," was pronounced dead at the scene.

Bartlett was hospitalized with broken bones, he added.

Investigators spent nearly four months building a case against Bartlett before issuing a warrant last week, Taylor said.

Bartlett is expected to arrive in Pasadena today to be booked, said Taylor.

"It's a good thing that we can help bring some closure to the family by bringing him to justice," he said.

City News Service contributed to this story.