Overview

• Alhambra police say a bystander recognized the hand signal at a 7‑Eleven on Aug. 19 and called 911, prompting officers to respond.
• Body‑camera video posted Aug. 31 shows officers engaging with the pair in the store and the suspect attempting to run before being detained.
• The suspect, identified as John Palombi, 38, had an active warrant and a stun gun; he was booked and is being held without bail, with a Sept. 18 court date listed in county records.
• The one‑hand gesture, created by the Canadian Women’s Foundation in 2020, involves tucking the thumb into the palm and closing the fingers to discreetly signal distress.
• Domestic‑violence organizations endorse the signal as a useful tool but advise centering the victim’s safety and warn that wider awareness can raise risk if abusers learn it.