Sorry about the lack of updates the last few days -- granted, it's been busy with the shooting at that Burbank apartment building Thursday night that left three people dead and one in the hospital. Police say it's the first multiple homicide in the city in some 20 years.

All the details are here -- the grief and shock of a neighborhood in mourning.

Meanwhile, valleynews.com blogger Lisa Burks, who lives nearby, has this account of the scene Thursday night.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 01:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

The seedier side of Burbank -- police arrested two women at a hotel near Bob Hope Airport last Thursday on suspicion of prostitution in a sting.

Jessical Gonzales of Fremont and Raeanna Valencia of Fairfield, both 19, were arrested for the misdemeanor and have bailed out, police Sgt. Matt Ferguson said.

The women were allegedly offering escort and massage services in the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena area on Web sites such as Craigslist. Police, following a tip, set up a rendezvous with at the hotel. They weren't actually based out of the hotel, Ferguson said.

Both the ladies were from out-of-town, though police suspect they may be linked to a prostitution ring operating in the San Fernando Valley.

Here's the Leader's version.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 03:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

"Sleepy" got pulled over in Burbank for driving without a seatbelt, but little did authorities know at the time, they've hauled a big fish from the world of Russian-Armenian organized crime.

The crime ring canvassed truck yards from Oxnard to Chino, sneaking in at night and lumbering away with big rigs full of fancy TVs, children's clothes, new tires - even a $55,000 shipment of Gatorade.

They hauled the loot - worth some $10 million in all - to a Van Nuys warehouse that served as a central drop-off point, where they unloaded the cargo in the middle of the night. Later, they'd take an inventory, sort it and sell it on the black market.

If not for the arrest of a guy named Sleepy and the carelessness of the group's ringleader - who forgot to buckle up while driving through Burbank late last month - the stolen trucks might still be rumbling through the night, authorities say.

Read the rest of Daily News reporter (and East of the 5 alum) Jason Kandel's story here.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 11:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

To the disappointment of the Glendale and Burbank police departments, pregnant celebutant Nicole Richie will doing her four-day DUI jail sentence at a Casa de Baca -- or Lynwood jail, the same county slammer where Simple Life co-star Paris Hilton served most of her sentence.

Richie was sentenced to four days in jail, three years probation and 21 days in a drug rehab program for her Dec. 11 DUI arrest in Burbank -- she was driving her black Mercedes SUV the wrong way on the Ventura Freeway. The reality-TV star and Hilton BFF (still? I've lost track..) failed a field-sobriety test and told police she had taken a pain killer and smoked marijuana.

Last Friday she entered a guilty plea -- her second DUI conviction (the first was in June 2003) and she could have been jailed for up to a year.

She was allowed to choose between a county and city jail. Although a city jail is considered less arduous, she would not be eligible for early release and would have to serve her full sentence there.

Earlier this week, Richie told the sheriff’s department she will serve her time in a county lockup, said sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore. Lynwood is the only county jail for female inmates, which is where Paris Hilton served most of her 23 days behind bars for driving on a suspended license while on probation for HER DUI arrest.

Richie has until Sept. 28 to serve her time. Because county jails are overcrowded, some are guessing nonviolent inmates like her could score an early release.

Earlier:
Getting elbowed in the head on the Nicole Richie beat

Posted by Eugene Tong at 07:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

A few bits of news of nominal interest:

• Two Vineland Boys members pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and murdering a witness and accepted terms of life in prison without parole. Jose "Peps" Ledesma, 24, and Javier "Coco" Covarrubius, 23, faced multiple charges stemming from the 2003 murder of 16-year-old Martha Puebla, who was going to testify against one of the gang members, and for dealing methamphetamine. Both men, who are from Sun Valley, pleaded guilty as jury selection for their trial got under way. They would have faced the death penalty if convicted. Daily News

  But it's not over yet -- besides David Garcia, who is facing state murder charges for the 2003 slaying of Burbank Police officer Matthew Pavelka, word this morning from Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Young (whose team got a commendation for the Vineland Boys prosecution) is Horicio Yepiz may yet see his day in court. He was in an institution after he was ruled incompetent to stand trial, but that could change with a compentency hearing Monday.

• Beeline service cutbacks for Glenoaks Canyon. News Press

Posted by Eugene Tong at 01:09 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)|

GLENDALE — A 61-year-old man has been jailed without bail after he allegedly shot and stabbed four of his relatives during an argument, and was later subdued when his victims fought back, police said Wednesday.

Police found Valodia Balabekyan of Tujunga pinned by three men and a woman Tuesday morning when they arrived at an apartment on the 500 block of S. Belmont Street, Sgt. Tom Lorenz said.

He was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday at Glendale Superior Court.

The victims — either uncles or siblings to Balabekyan and resided at the apartment — were shot with a small-caliber handgun. Some also suffered stab wounds and were covered in blood when police arrived. They were treated at area hospitals and were in stable condition.

"Four people get shot, which could've been a horrible situation," Lorenz said. "Amazingly they're alive."

Posted by Eugene Tong at 07:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Policy wonking and mad-cap violence:

• Amid concerns about a soft real estate market, the Glendale City Council on Tuesday finalized the details of a proposed fee on local development projects to finance parks and libraries. The draft Development Impact Fee ordinance -- considered a watered-down version by at least one councilman -- could return for approval later this month. Daily News

• As for bizzare crime -- a 61-year-old Tujunga man has been arrested for allegedly shooting three men and a women in a south Glendale apartment after an argument. Police arrested Valodia Balabekyan on suspicion of attempted murder at the South Belmont Street unit 7:45 a.m Tuesday. The victims were all related and were in staple condition. News Press

• Burbank City Council, where free speech is valued at the expense of time and meetings usually run well past 11 p.m, is once again talking about ways to streamline their meetings. One proposal would require a majority vote for a meeting go run past 11 p.m. What did they decide? We don't know since that meeting ran long and past the Leader's deadline.

• A milestone at Bob Hope Airport -- passenger traffic of 2.86 million for the first half of the year is 23 percent higher compared to the same period in 2001, before the air travel industry tanked after 9/11. Leader

Posted by Eugene Tong at 01:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

A 36-year-old Van Nuys man was arrested after a technician at a Burbank Best Buy store servicing his computer found child pornography on its hard drive, Los Angeles police said Monday.

Kenneth Chernow, 36, was arrested Thursday at his home in the 13500 block of Hart Street on suspicion of possessing child pornography after the Best Buy technician reported the discovery to authorities. He was released on $20,000 bail.

The LAPD’s Computer Crimes Unit conducted an analysis of the computer and confirmed the presence of several images of child pornography on the machine.

Police searched Chernow's home, which also turne dup more evidence. No victims have been identified. Anyone with information was asked to call LAPD Juvenile Division Carlos Monterroso at (213) 485-4220 or (877) 529-3855 evenings and weekends.

Meanwhile, two Valencia Best Buy Geek Squad members -- those house-call making service techs in the black-and-white VW Beetles -- have been suspended and the entire local operation is under investigation after a former employee accused his former co-workers of snooping in files in computers left for repairs, a company spokeswoman said. Daily News

Posted by Eugene Tong at 11:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

via the
News Press

A choir director at Incarnation Catholic Church was arrested Friday in Pasadena after he allegedly gave a 17-year-old parish boy alcohol and suggested "inappropriate sexual activity," according to Pasadena Police.

Russell Jackson, 46, of Pasadena, faces three misdemeanor charges stemming from the alleged July 1 incident. Those charges include child annoying, exhibiting harmful material to a minor and providing alcohol to a minor, said Janet Pope, spokeswoman for the Pasadena Police Department.

Jackson, who was also a music teacher for the Incarnation Catholic School, was fired from both jobs the day the incident was reported on July 6, said Tod Tamberg, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Archdiocese.

Jackson turned himself in Friday on advice from his attroney, and was cited and release. Arraignment is Aug. 16.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 10:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Finally a free morning to get our blog on...

• Along for the Ride columnist Sue Doyle rode out east early this week and visited some folks whose rides have more than 200,000 miles on the odometer

  GLENDALE - The upholstery on the driver's seat is in shreds. Masking tape patches a cracked taillight. And the odometer reads 223,626 miles.

  To some, it would definitely be time for a trade-in.

  But to Suren Rostonmyan, the 1986 Toyota pickup still has a lot of kick left. By staying on top of oil changes and continuing the TLC, he figures the reliable red truck could hit 300,000 miles without a hitch.

  Check out Suren's rig in the photo galleries to our right.

• Convictions in the 2004 beating death of 17-year-old William Maldonado -- a jury yesterday found William Torres, 24, Pedro Pena, 25, and Fredy Gudiel, 21 guilty of second-degree murder with a gang enhancement. Maldonado was riding his bike to his sister's house when the trio attacked him with baseball bats. Daily News

• Angry residents near Glendale High lashed out at the Glendale City Council last night about broken sprinkers and In-n-Out wrappers littered in their 'hood. They blame the campus' stadium, which holds too many events for their liking. News Press

  What do you guys think? Do they have to live with it since they did move next to a high school ? or do we blame the city and the school district? Me -- I blame society.

• Target at the Galleria -- "We're a normal Target." Good. News Press

  *The CurbedLA crowd marvels at the tri-level Vermaports inside the new Target store.

• The Times catches-up with the Burbank 7-Eleven turned Kwik-E-Mart. Since making the switch as part of a month-long marketing campaign for the Simpsons Movie, business has shot up 300 percent, and hot dog sales jumped from 800 to 3,000 a week.

• And finally, ain't no party like a Burbank party in which a couple of possibly uninvited guests blasted a few holes in the ceiling during a wedding reception Saturday night at Castaway restaurant. No injuries, no arrests and few are talking. Leader

Posted by Eugene Tong at 10:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

GLENDALE - A man died early this morning when a woman backing out of a driveway hit him as he walked by, police said.

The man was killed at 1:15 a.m. in the 100 block of East Lomita Avenue near Brand Boulevard, police said. His name and age were not immediately available.

Police said the woman did not see the man, who died at the scene.

No arrests have been made, police said.

Last week, the Glendale Police presented a report on pedestrian safety before the City Council, which found the number of car-vs.-people collisions in Glendale to be steady the past couple years, but overall still lagging when compared to neighboring cities.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 07:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

In case you didn't hear Friday...

A Glendale man suspected of a hit-and-run crash that killed a 24-year-old Glendale woman was charged Friday with second-degree murder, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office announced. Ara Grigoryan, 21, was expected to answer to the charge in Pasadena Superior Court today, said Deputy District Attorney Robert Knowles. The D.A.'s office will ask that Grigoryan be held without bail.

Grigoryan is suspected of driving a black Mercedes-Benz on July 10 that struck and killed Elizabeth Sandoval as she was walking on Glendale Avenue near Windsor Road. The driver did not stop. The vehicle was found last Saturday near a Van Nuys body shop. Grigoryan was arrested in Mexico City this week by U.S. Marshals as he was allegedly going to take a flight to Europe and possibly his home country of Armenia, police said.

The Mexican government deemed him undesireable and turned him over to U.S. custody. If convicted, he's facing 15 years to life in prison, officials said.

Meanwhile, got a call from a reader who felt the fact that Elizabeth Sandoval was jaywalking when she was struck and killed should be emphasized more in the coverage. I mentioned that early in the coverage, but that detail dropped off when the story became that of an international manhunt for a hit-and-run driver.

The reader felt Sandoval's family should stop to consider that Elizabeth also broke the law, which resulted in her death. Any thoughts? It's one thing to jaywalk -- we all do it from time to time -- but did she deserve to be killed for it? Isn't a bigger crime for the driver -- who was speeding -- to hit her, then tried to escape responsibilty by fleeing the country?

I supposed it's all best left for the jury to grapple with when this gets to trial.

Earlier:
"Person of interest" in Glendale hit-n-run arrested in Mexico City
A break in the Glendale hit-and-run case?

Posted by Eugene Tong at 07:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)|

A late item:

A man who lit a bottle rocket inside his Glendale apartment and sparked a blaze post-Fourth of July that destroyed his building has pleaded no contest Tuesday to criminal charges.

Kevin Carpenter entered his plea to two felony counts of recklessly causing a fire to an inhabited structure, and was sentenced to one year in county jail and three years probation, said Jane Robison of the District Attorney’s Office.

Burbank Superior Court Judge Patrick Hegarty suspended a two-year state prison term that Carpenter, as long as he complies with the terms of his probation.

Carpenter was accused of lighting a bottle rocket around 2:45 a.m. July 5 in his apartment at 807 E. Chevy Chase Drive with the intention of throwing it into the street. But it exploded and burned him, according to Glendale fire Capt. Tom Propst.

It took 44 firefighters 13 minutes to knock down the fire, which caused $800,000 in damage to the building and $200,000 in damage to the contents, he said. Three units were destroyed and a fourth was heavily damaged.

Carpenter was treated for second-degree burns, according to Glendale police Sgt. Susan Hayn.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 06:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

via Glendale Police:

Today the Glendale Police Department has Ara Grigoryan in custody for his involvement in a hit and run accident that caused the death of Elizabeth Sandoval on July 10, 2007. With the assistance of State and Federal Authorities, we were able to locate Ara Grigoryan in Mexico City. We would specifically like to thank Immigration Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, United States Marshalls, and the Mexican Authorities for their assistance in this case.

We would like to take this moment and give you a chronological order of events that took place during our investigation regarding this case.

On July 10, 2007 at 9:45 pm, Glendale Police Officers responded to Glendale Avenue and Windsor Road, regarding a traffic collision involving a vehicle and a pedestrian. Elizabeth Sandoval was pronounced at the scene. An investigation into the fatal hit and run accident began.

On July 11, 2007, traffic investigators were able to identify a location where the suspect vehicle might have been. Officers did not locate the vehicle in question; however, they were able to identify evidence that was left behind by the possible suspect.

On July 12, 2007, anonymous tips and more investigative work led us to identifying the vehicle and the person of interest who had been driving the vehicle in question.

On July 13, 2007, Glendale police investigators requested Mercedes Benz of America and ATX to activate the Global Positioning System to assist us in locating the suspect vehicle. After retrieving two court orders, our request still went unanswered. On July 14, 2007 at 7:00 am, the Los Angeles Police Department notified us that ATX had activated the GPS and the vehicle in question was located parked on a public street in the City of Van Nuys. There were obvious signs of fresh bodywork done to the front-end portion of the vehicle.

At the beginning of this week, we received information that a person matching the description of Ara Grigoryan was in custody in Mexico City. Today we have verified that Ara Grigoryan is in fact the person that was detained by the Mexican Authorities. With the assistance of the United States Marshall’s, Ara Grigoryan was transported back to the United States and released to the custody of the Glendale Police Department.

Our prayers again go out to the Sandoval Family and we hope this will give them some type of closer.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 01:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

GLENDALE — A man has barricaded himself inside a house today in what appeared to be a botched burglary, police said.

The man, who appeared in his late 20s, is believed to be holed-up by himself in a home on the 1100 block of Avonoak Terrace, police Sgt. Tom Lorenz said. Police had arrived at the home at about 11 a.m., after its burglar alarm was triggered, and saw the man come out of the garage.

When he saw the officers, he ran back inside, Lorenz said.

There has been several daytime residential burglaries reported in the area, and investigators suspect the man may be the culprit, Lorenz said.

*Update 5:46 p.m. -- Police has arrested Jerome Wilson, 26, of Tujunga, after a five-hour stand-off. Daily News

Posted by Eugene Tong at 02:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

BURBANK - Two Burbank police officers who were in a pursuit Sunday were injured when the car they were in swerved to avoid hitting an oncoming car, jumped a curb, hit a tree, and a sign post before flipping, police said.

The incident began about 1:30 a.m. Sunday when the officers were chasing a suspected car thief when they crashed near Victory Place and Lake Street, said Burbank Police Lt. Brian Matthews. The unidentified officers were treated for minor injuries at a local hospital and released. More at Daily News.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 12:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

GLENDALE _ Police located Saturday the Mercedes Benz sedan that struck down in the a 24-year-old woman earlier this week, while the hunt continued for a man believed to be involved with the fatal hit-and-run.

The black four-door S430 sedan with a California license plate of O7TT777 was found parked along the curb in Van Nuys after the car’s tracking system was activated, police spokesman John Balian said. Investigators were trying to turn up new leads at area auto repair shops.

Police said the driver of the black Mercedes struck and killed Elizabeth Sandoval at highway speeds while she crossed the street at Glendale Avenue near Windsor Road Tuesday night, then fled the scene.

On Friday, police complained an attorney for the German automaker had refused comply with a court order to activate the car’s global positioning system. But the device’s Texas-based manufacturer contacted Los Angeles Police with a location Saturday, Balian said.

Authorities were looking for Ara Grigoryan, 21, of Glendale, a “person of interest” who matches witness descriptions of the man behind the wheel. The car is registered to one of Grigoryan's relatives, but he has been cited for seven traffic violations over two years while driving the car, including failure to yield to pedestrians and three cases of speeding.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 06:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

GLENDALE - Police are looking for a man believed to be involved in a hit-and-run crash that killed a 24-year-old woman earlier this week, but their efforts were stymied Friday when an automaker refused to cooperate with investigators trying to locate the suspect’s car.

Police said Ara Grigoryan, 21, of Glendale is a “person of interest” who matches witnesses’ description of the man behind the wheel of the black Mercedes Benz-sedan that struck and killed Elizabeth Sandoval at Glendale Avenue near Windsor Road Tuesday.

The car is registered to one of Grigoryan’s relatives, but he has been cited for seven traffic violations over two years while driving the car, police spokesman John Balian said. They include failure to yield to pedestrians and three cases of speeding.

Police attempted to locate the car by requesting Mercedes Benz to activate the vehicle’s onboard tracking system.
Many recent model luxury cars are equipped with a global position system allowing authorities to locate them if they were stolen. Police presented two separate court orders Friday, but attorneys at the German automaker’s North American headquarters in New Jersey refused to comply.

A message left with Frank Berenz, an attorney representing Mercedes Benz, was not immediately returned.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 06:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Alan Freibaum -- the "Irreconciliable Differnces Bandit" pleaded not guilty to 31 felony robbery and other charges at his arraignment at Burbank Superior Court.

Freibaum, 55, is accused in 14 bank robberies, during which he made off with more than $44,000 between December 2006 and until his capture in June this year. He also faces charges of kidnapping a woman, first-degree residential robbery and first-degree burglary, which could result in a life sentence if convicted.

He's being held in lieu of $2 million bail. The next hearing is scheduled Aug. 8 at Pasadena Superior Court, Dept. E.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 01:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Glendale Police is calling an 11 a.m. news conference to present a "person of interest" in the Elizabeth Sandoval hit-and-run case. Sandoval, 24, of Glendale was killed Tuesday night when a speeding black Mercedes-Benz sedan struck her at Glendale Avenue near Windsor Road. The vehicle was traveling at up to 60 mph on impact, and flung her about 75-100 feet. See Daily News story here.

*Update 10:54 a.m. via Glendale Police
The suspected vehicle is described as a 2003 black 4-door Mercedes-Benz S430, with a California license plate of O7TT777, and is believed to have sustained front-end damage. The person of interest in this incident is Ara Grigoryan of Glendale, who is described as a male Armenian, approximately 5’9 with black hair and brown eyes. The investigators have developed information that Mr. Grigoryan is related to the vehicle that we are seeking.

It is expected that Glendale City Council will approve allocations for a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the hit-and-run suspect. LA County Board of Supervisor Michael Antonovich will also be asking for an additional $10,000.00 reward to be provided by the County. The Glendale Police Department is urging any witnesses or other involved parties to come forward with any information that they may have.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the Glendale Police Department at (818)548-4840. They can also call the Glendale Crime Stoppers anonymous hotline at (818)507-7867.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 10:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

The basketball hoops are down and there was a fresh coat of paint on the benches at Brand Park on Thursday, just more than two weeks after a shooting there raised concerns about public safety. Residents said the b-ball court - in a remote corner of the park and far from the gaze of police patrols - is a magnet for illicit rendezvous - drug deals, vandalism and other crimes.

The park made headlines June 26 when someone shot at an occupied vehicle after a confrontation. No one was injured, and two men - Harutyun Abrahamyan, 21, of Pasadena, and Haroutioun Aivazian, 19, of Glendale - were arrested about a week later on suspicion of attempted murder.

Police have stepped up patrols. Meanwhile, spooked residents are demanding the city clean up the sprawling 31-acre park nestled at the base of the Verdugo Mountains, the former estate of Leslie C. Brand, one of the city's pioneers.

more at dailynews.com...

Posted by Eugene Tong at 10:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

On assignment this morning -- here's a quick update to fill the hours

A husband and wife from Glendale and two female accomplices from the San Fernando Valley were accused of running an adult day health care center out of a church community room, endangering senior citizens by having uncredentialed social workers conduct therapy and filing false claims to the state's Medi-Cal program, state officials said today.

Five felony counts, including false claims, grand theft, and subjecting seniors to great bodily injury have been filed against Simon and Vardui Rosi Dulbandzhyan, both of Glendale; Ani Ter-Gevorkyan, of North Hollywood; and Salphy Boyajian, of West Hills.

More at dailynews.com

Posted by Eugene Tong at 06:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Authorities have identified a 24-year-old Glendale woman who was killed by hit-and-run motorist while crossing the street.

Elizabeth Sandoval was struck down at about 9:40 p.m. by a black Mercedes Benz-sedan at Glendale Avenue near Windsor Road, police spokesman John Balian said. The vehicle was traveling at up to 60 mph when it struck Sandoval, and flung her about 75-100 feet. The speed limit at the intersection was 30 mph.

Sandoval was leaving an area convenience store with a friend, Balian said. Witnesses told police they were crossing the street against a red light, though one motorist had stopped for them before Sandoval was struck. Her companion was not injured.

Police believe the Mercedes was being driven by a man, and suffered major front-end damage. Television news footage showed the car’s front grill left at the scene. Anyone knowing more about the case was urged to call police at (818) 548-4818.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 02:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

It didn't take even an hour for Jason to post an item about the 24-year-old Glendale woman who was killed in a hit-and-run last night on the Daily News Web site that we get one reader lashing out at immigration and immigrant drivers.

Now I'm not going to repeat the post here -- here's the link if you're curious -- but the writer's argument seems to be based on the fact the car that hit the woman was a Mercedes Benz sedan. That's big leap in logic, but extreme nativism is rarely logical.

I usually expect this kind of talk AFTER police have an identified suspect in custody, but then it doesn't take much set off the anti-immigration crowd nowadays. I wonder what the commenter will say when he or she finds out the victim was Latina.

Maybe it's something against the Germans, those engineers of fine automotive products. We have to put a stop to German immigration! Who knows how many of teutonic scofflaws are living among us without proper papers?

Posted by Eugene Tong at 12:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

GLENDALE -- Two banks were robbed Tuesday just 15 minutes apart, one by a man authorities have dubbed “The Zorro Bandit” and the other by a group who pulled off a well-organized heist, police said.

The first robbery occurred about 9:45 a.m. when three men wearing baseball caps and armed with handguns entered Bank of the West at 400 N. Glendale Blvd. Two of the men ordered the patrons and the tellers to lie down on the floor while the third man took money from teller stations and entered the vault, Glendale police spokesman John Balian said.

Outside, the trio joined an accomplice waiting in a gray Toyota with no license plates.

The other robbery was reported about 10 a.m. at Union Bank at 33 N. Brand Blvd. when a man armed with a handgun approached a teller demanding money.

The man is described as 5-feet-5 and 160 pounds and appeared in his mid-20s to early 30s.He had slick, greasy hair and wore a goatee — hence the Zorro nickname, Balian said. The FBI has linked him to at least five previous heists.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 10:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

A smorgasboard.

• A 24-year-old woman was killed in Glendale last night by a hit-and-run driver. The woman was hit by the car about 9:40 last night on Glendale Avenue near Windsor Road, said Glendale police Sgt. Dennis Smith. The victim was walking west across Glendale Avenue, about 50 feet south of Windsor Road, accompanied by another woman, when she was struck by a black Mercedes-Benz. Daily News CBS2 (video)

• The Times profiles Burbank's Autobooks-Aerobooks, which has been in business since 1951. It's collection of books, models and memorabillia for gearheads has drawn a celebrity clientele including Nicholas Case, Tim Allen and Jay Leno.

• Since gunfire errupted at Brand Park a couple weeks ago, frightened residents have been stroming the Glendale City Council pushing for more police patrols, security cameras and removal of the basketball hoops there, which they say draw unsavory elements. News Press

• Here's a tale involving unsuspecting travellers flying to Vegas from Burbank on Southwest, and rock god Tommy Lee. E! Online
  

Posted by Eugene Tong at 09:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Six people who allegedly skipped-out on paying an estimated $1 million in state taxes as construction contractors have pleaded not guilty today to multiple counts of felony tax evasion.

The six people, who resided in Burbank and Glendale, were arraigned in Los Angeles Superior Court, state Franchise Tax Board officials said. The next hearing is scheduled Sept. 5.

They include:

• Sarkis Ter Abelian, aka Mike Terabelian, 42, of Burbank and his wife, Alisa Oganyan, 32;
  
• Zohrab Mkhitarian, aka Rob Mikitarian, 39, of Burbank and his spouse, Marine Metspakyan, 31;
  
• Avetik Gyandzhyan, 37, of Glendale and his wife, Lilit Lusparyan, 27.

The defendants allegedly operated businesses providing plumbing, air conditioning, and electrical work, and operated companies under multiple names. Investigators said the companies failed to file state income tax returns for 2001-04, or filed returns claiming expenses were equaled to reported income.

The county District Attorney’s office, which began the investigation, also alleged the defendants of overcharging, billing for services not performed and for substandard work.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 06:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich has dished-out a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of 18-year-old Brittani Idom's killer. Idom attended Glendale College, and was captain of the cheerleading sqaud there.

Meanwhile, LA City Councilman Herb Wesson is waiting for his council to approve a $50,000 reward in the Idom case -- she was shot early Friday while driving in his Mid-City district.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 02:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

All-Star Tuesday.

• Glendale story of the day -- Brittani Idom had just finished her first year at Glendale College and was captain of the cheerleading squad there. But the life and promise held by this 18-year-old was severed last week in a senseless shooting. Daily News

• Grand View case moves another inch -- a judge yesterday allowed the city of Glendale to clean-up dried growth and other hazards, paving the way for the twice-a-month visiting hours to resume, though we're not sure when. News Press

• Glendale Water & Power wants to test drill for water near Dunsmore Elementary School to tap into the Verdugo groundwater basin. News Press

• Meanwhile in Burbank, theives are targeting fire hydrants for their bronze caps, which are fetching good prices, with metals and other building materials in high demand worldwide. "A phenomenon of three-dollars-a-pound scrap," Burbank Water and Power General Manager Ron Davis said.

• And a laser light show is no fireworks at the Starlight Bowl Fourth of July Spectacular Leader
  

Posted by Eugene Tong at 10:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

That's right -- you, who's looking for handouts at a cement median near Glenhurst or Glenfeliz. The good people of Atwater Village have their eye on you, and so does the LAPD...

Posted by Eugene Tong at 01:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Free ride/ Take it easy.

A pox of thefts and rip-offs for Glendale's cornucopia of BMWs, according to the News Press

Via Glendale Police spokesman John Balian:

Glendale Police Officers responded to 1601 West Mountain, Brand Park after receiving a call of multiple gunshots coming with in the park. On June 26, 2007, at 5:00 pm, witnesses reported hearing gunshots coming from a white SUV type vehicle at Brand Park. The driver of the vehicle was described as a male Armenian, in his twenties, wearing a hat and sunglasses. The driver exchanged words with a group of males in the park and then began shooting.

Approximately five shots were fired and three of the shots fired struck a vehicle that was in the path of the gunshots. No injuries were reported at the time of the incident. The Glendale Police Department has made steps to add extra police patrol at Brand Park, by utilizing Park Rangers, Special Enforcement Detail, Gang Unit, and field patrol units.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Glendale Police Detectives at 818-548-3987.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 01:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Arraignment for Alan Freibaum -- the "Irreconciliable Differnces Bandit" -- has been postponed until July 13 in Burbank Superior Court. The 55-year-old alleged made off with more than $44,000 in Southland bank robbery spree between December 2006 and until his June this year. He apparently began knocking down banks because he was going through a divorce and needed money. Victims include four Citibank branches in Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Glendale and Burbank, two Wells Fargo branches in Glendale and Encion and others.

He's charged with 25 counts of robbery, and was being held in lieu of on $2 million bail.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 04:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|