GPD Reports

Arrests for Reckless Driving and Street Racing – Vehicles Impounded

The Glendale Police Dept. has a zero-tolerance policy regarding reckless driving and illegal street racing. Those arrested for such offenses will have their vehicles impounded. The list below depicts those who have been arrested for reckless driving and participating in an illegal speed contest (racing) over the course of the last few weeks. Officers continue to proactively patrol the city and monitor traffic to keep roads safe for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. Anyone who witnesses reckless driving or illegal street racing should call the Glendale Police Department’s non-emergency line at (818) 548-4911 or 9-1-1 to report those involved.

Date/Approximate Time ArrestedLocationCharge(s)Subject(s) Arrested
June 29, 2021 / 4:45 pmBrand Blvd /
Colorado St
Speed Exhibition48-year-old Serj Kalousian of Glendale
July 3, 2021 / 8:00 pm200-blk of S CentralReckless Driving19-year-old Cheyenne Grisez of San Ramon
July 9, 2021 / MidnightBagdad Pl / Verdugo RdIllegal Speed ContestJuvenile
July 9, 2021 / MidnightBagdad Pl / Verdugo RdIllegal Speed ContestJuvenile
July 10, 2021 / 3:30 am100-blk of W Maple StReckless Driving
DUI
36-year-old Davit Manukyan of Glendale
July 11, 2021 / 11:45 pmArden Ave /
Columbus Ave
Reckless Driving18-year-old Allen Bableyan of La Cañada

 

Males Arrested in Possession of Loaded Handguns

On July 16 at approximately 11:20 p.m., a Glendale PD patrol officer observed a vehicle traveling approximately 100 MPH on the 210 Freeway and conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle. The officer contacted the driver, identified as 19-year-old Gabriel Michel of Palmdale, regarding the violation. Michel admitted that he was speeding and also stated he was unlicensed. While speaking with Michel, the officer could smell the odor of marijuana coming from inside of the vehicle.

A records check of Michel revealed his driver’s license had been suspended. An additional officer arrived on scene to assist and officers asked Michel and the front passenger, later identified as 20-year-old Christopher Smith of Palmdale, to exit the vehicle. Smith did not have identification on him and told officers his name was “Tristen Thompson.”

During a search of the vehicle, officers located two loaded handguns with no serial numbers on them along with marijuana. Both Michel and Smith denied knowing that there were two loaded firearms in the vehicle and both were arrested and booked for illegal possession of a firearm in a vehicle. Michel was also arrested for driving on a suspended license. Just prior to being booked, Smith admitted he had lied about his name and provided his true identity. Smith was additionally booked for providing false identification to an officer.

 

Male Arrested for Illegal Drug Sales and Fraud

On July 7 at approximately 6:30 p.m., officers with the Glendale Police Dept.’s Special Enforcement Detail were driving through the parking lot of a motel on the 300 block of East Colorado Street. As they did so, they observed a male, identified as 29-year-old Artak Avakian of Glendale, place a bag into the trunk of a parked vehicle and then walk away from it.

Officers immediately recognized Avakian from prior contacts and knew that he had a local outstanding felony arrest warrant for illegal drug sales and that he was on probation with search and seizure conditions. Based on this information, the officers detained Avakian. While speaking with him, officers observed fentanyl and heroin in plain view inside the vehicle Avakian had walked away from. They were also able to identify a motel room associated with Avakian.

Officers responded to this motel room to conduct a probation compliance

check and made contact with two individuals inside the room, later identified as 27-year-old Mackenzie Draughn of Ohio and 32-year-old Joshua Ward of Lancaster. Upon conducting a probation search of the room, officers located multiple plastic baggies of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, a notebook containing other people’s personal identifying information, a driver’s license that did not belong to any of the subjects at the location and a taser.

Ward was arrested for illegal drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia. Draughn was arrested for identity theft, being a convicted felon in possession of a stun gun and illegal drug possession.

During a search of Avakian’s vehicle, officers located multiple plastic baggies containing methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, Suboxone strips, Ecstasy, Xanax and Tramadol along with a black replica firearm, a digital scale, notepads containing other people’s personal identifying information, drug paraphernalia and a bank card belonging to someone else.

Avakian was subsequently arrested and booked for illegal drug sales, identity theft and for two separate outstanding felony drug sales warrants.