Gang Member Arrested for Possession of Ghost Gun / Female Arrested for Narcotics

On July 22 just after 1:30 a.m., a Glendale police officer on patrol observed a vehicle traveling northbound on Brand Boulevard at a high rate of speed. The officer conducted a traffic stop and contacted the driver, later identified as 31-year-old Tigran Tsaturyan of Tujunga, and passenger, 22-year-old Evelyn Castillo of Canoga Park.

While speaking with Tsaturyan, the officer observed a plastic bundle and can of butane in the vehicle. 

Assisting officers arrived and a search of the vehicle produced a loaded ghost gun, a box of ammunition, three credit cards in someone else’s name, what resembled heroin, what resembled methamphetamine and other drug-related paraphernalia.

During the investigation officers learned that Tsaturyan was a gang member with multiple felony convictions and that Castillo was on active probation.

Tsaturyan was arrested for being a felon in possession of a concealed weapon, carrying a loaded firearm in public, owning ammunition while prohibited and several narcotics-related charges.

Castillo had initially provided a false name to officers and was subsequently arrested for providing false identification, misappropriation of lost property and possession of controlled substance paraphernalia.

Male Arrested for Possession of Ghost Gun After Double Parking Vehicle

On July 20 at approximately 9 p.m., a Glendale PD officer on patrol noticed a vehicle double parked on the wrong side of the street along the 600 block of Ivy Street. The vehicle was unoccupied and during the officer’s investigation a male approached the officer and claimed the vehicle belonged to him. The male, later identified as 33-year-old Robert Pena (transient), was discovered to be on Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS).

In plain view, the officer noticed a glass pipe and several knives in the vehicle. A search of the vehicle produced two handguns without serial numbers on them (one of which was loaded with over 20 rounds), a loaded magazine, a bag containing what resembled methamphetamine and other narcotics, a loaded magazine, and a large sum of cash. The officer also located in Pena’s wallet two access cards belonging to other people.

Pena was subsequently arrested and booked for multiple felony charges including being a felon in possession of a concealed firearm in a vehicle, possessing ammunition while prohibited, possessing a large capacity magazine, identity theft and possessing controlled substances for sale.

Male Arrested for Possessing a Loaded Handgun

On July 15 at approximately 10 p.m., a Glendale PD patrol officer conducted a records check of a vehicle driving in the area of Glenoaks Boulevard and Highland Avenue and discovered the vehicle’s registration had expired in 2020; however, the license plate had a 2021 expiration tab attached to it.

The officer conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle for the violation and contacted the driver, identified as 28-year-old Vahagn Vardanyan of North Hollywood, regarding the violation. Vardanyan stated he had just recently purchased the vehicle and was unaware of the violation. Officers asked Vardanyan and his front passenger, identified as 27-year-old Carlos Meza-Hernandez of Glendale, to exit the vehicle so they could further investigate the violation. During a search of Meza-Hernandez, officers recovered a loaded handgun concealed in one of his pockets.

The recovered firearm had a serial number on it; however, a records check of the serial number revealed it was unregistered. Vardanyan was arrested for displaying a false registration tab. Meza-Hernandez was arrested and booked for illegal possession of a concealed firearm.

Two Males Arrested for Vehicle Theft and Possession of Narcotics

On July 15 at approximately 3 p.m., Glendale PD officers on patrol located a stolen vehicle in a parking lot on the corner of Foothill Bouelvard and Lauderdale Avenue. Two males were seen walking away from the vehicle heading eastbound on Foothill Boulevard.

Additional officers arrived and located the males nearby, identified as 29-year-old Robert Vanderhyde of Bakersfield and 40-year-old Brandon Steffan of Bakersfield who was discovered to be on probation.

An investigation confirmed that Vanderhyde and Steffan arrived in the parking lot in the stolen vehicle.

A search revealed that Vanderhyde was in possession of a methamphetamine pipe and what resembled methamphetamine, a substance resembling heroin, several credit cards not in his name, a window punch, utility knife and various other tools commonly used for vehicle burglary; Steffan was found to be in possession of a partially shaved vehicle key.

A further search of the vehicle produced additional narcotics, large knives, and a screwdriver. Vanderhyde was arrested for vehicle theft, possessing controlled substances, possessing burglary tools and misappropriation of lost property. Steffan was arrested and booked for vehicle theft and possessing controlled substances.