Traffic Stop Leads to Arrest of Four Males in Possession of a Loaded Firearm
On Aug. 6 at approximately 3:30 p.m., Glendale police officers assigned to the Downtown Policing Unit conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that drove through the Glendale Galleria parking lot at a high rate of speed.
The vehicle was occupied by the driver, later identified as 20-year-old Isiah Alay of Victorville, and three passengers: 29-year-old Jesse Morales of Long Beach, 28-year-old Christopher Cruz of Huntington Park, and 27-year-old Michael Lozoya of Los Angeles.
Officers discovered that Alay did not have a driver’s license despite being the driver of the vehicle. Throughout the investigation, officers learned that Alay had a non-local warrant out for his arrest.
All four males were asked to exit the vehicle. Morales originally provided officers with someone else’s driver’s license. Lozoya was found to be in possession of a large capsule containing marijuana and a wallet containing a driver’s license, Social Security card, and California identification card belonging to other people. A records check indicated that Lozoya had a non-local warrant out for his arrest.
A search of the vehicle produced a handgun loaded with a high capacity magazine, a Taser, two spray cans and methamphetamine. During the investigation it was discovered that one of the males was a gang member.
Alay was arrested for carrying a loaded firearm in public, possessing a controlled substance, identity theft and for driving without a license. Morales was arrested for possessing a controlled substance while armed, identity theft and his warrant. Cruz was arrested for being an ex-felon with a firearm, possessing a controlled substance while armed and identity theft. Lozoya was arrested for possessing a controlled substance while armed, identity theft and two non-local warrants.
Gang Member Arrested for Carrying a Loaded Firearm in Public
On Aug. 6 just after 5 p.m., Glendale police officers were dispatched to the 3800 block of Ocean View Boulevard regarding a man with a firearm.
Within moments, officers observed a vehicle travelling that was occupied a male who matched the suspect description. With assistance from the GPD Airship, patrol officers conducted a felony traffic stop on the vehicle.
Upon contacting 20-year-old Steven Garcia of Los Angeles, officers noticed that he had a tattoo indicative of being a criminal street gang member.
A vehicle search produced a loaded semi-automatic pistol that had been reported as lost earlier this year. Garcia was subsequently arrested for carrying a loaded firearm in public.
Two Males Arrested with a Loaded Firearm and Narcotics
On Aug. 5 at approximately 10 p.m., a Glendale police K9 officer noticed a vehicle travelling at a high rate of speed enter the 134 Freeway off of Glendale Avenue. During the observation, the officer was advised of a possible theft that had just occurred from a nearby business on the 500 block of North Glendale Avenue. The vehicle seen entering the freeway matched the description of the vehicle involved in the theft.
The officer confirmed that it was the vehicle involved in the theft and conducted a traffic stop. The officer contacted the driver, identified as 24-year-old Anthony Arutunian of Glendale, and noticed that Arutunian was wearing a GPS ankle bracelet. Arutunian was later discovered to be on parole. The officer also located a pocketknife on Arutunian and a bottle containing 198 prescription pills of OxyContin nearby.
Assisting officers arrived and contacted the passenger, identified as 26-year-old Vedin Minasmasihi of La Crescenta. A search of Minasmasihi produced three bindles of heroin and a clear glass pipe with a bulbous end that had methamphetamine residue inside of it.
A search of the vehicle produced a loaded ghost gun, push knife “dagger,” a pocketknife, an Ajax bottle containing Fentanyl, a small rubber container with seven OxyContin pills, two tubular pipes used to smoke methamphetamine, a digital scale, multiple dime sized Ziploc bags, and various denominations of cash.
Arutunian was arrested for various charges including being an ex-felon with a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm in public, owning ammunition while prohibited, possessing narcotics and controlled substances for sale and for violating the terms of his parole.
Minasmasihi was arrested for various charges including carrying a concealed weapon, possessing narcotics and controlled substances, possessing controlled substances for sale, and for violating the terms of his probation.
Two Arrested After Vehicle Pursuit
On Aug. 5 at approximately 5 p.m., officers with the Glendale Police Dept.’s Special Enforcement Detail were patrolling the area of San Fernando Road and Winchester Avenue when they observed a vehicle with tinted windows pass them. As the vehicle was passing them, they immediately recognized the front passenger, 19-year-old Genaro Salcedo of Sun Valley, from previous contacts and knew that he was currently on probation for a weapons violation; furthermore, the officers had information that he was potentially armed with a handgun.
Officers attempted to stop the vehicle for the observed violation and to make contact with Salcedo; however, the driver of the vehicle, later identified as 19-year-old Mark Magana of La Crescenta, accelerated away from the officers at a high rate of speed and a vehicle pursuit was initiated. During the pursuit, Magana maintained high speeds, drove recklessly and collided into multiple unoccupied vehicles at various locations. Ultimately, Magana lost control of his vehicle in the area of Glendale Boulevard and Berkeley Avenue in the City of Los Angeles rolling his car over and crashing into a utility pole, causing the pole and power lines to fall onto the street.
Salcedo, Magana and three juvenile passengers were subsequently detained without further incident. Salcedo, Magana and one juvenile passenger were transported to the hospital with minor injuries while the other two juveniles were released at the scene to parents. During a search of the vehicle, officers located two nitrous oxide (NOS) tanks and empty balloons. After receiving treatment at the hospital, Salcedo (who was also found to be in possession of a credit card belonging to another person) was booked for illegal possession of nitrous oxide and misappropriation of lost property while Magana was booked for felony child endangerment and felony evading. The juvenile that was transported to the hospital was treated and released to their parents.
Male Released from Custody Steals Truck Outside of Glendale PD Jail
On Aug. 2 at approximately 9:45 p.m., Glendale PD patrol officers located a stolen vehicle driving westbound on Colorado Street near Glendale Avenue. The vehicle had been reported stolen earlier in the day in the City of Upland. Officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and detained the driver, identified as 23-year-old Kaelun Scharrer (transient), along with a passenger. During a search of the vehicle, officers located a methamphetamine pipe.
Scharrer was subsequently arrested and booked for vehicle theft and possession of drug paraphernalia. Due to Los Angeles County’s “zero-dollar” bail schedule, Scharrer was released from custody within six hours of being booked with a notice to appear in court at a later date.
Three hours after Scharrer was released from custody, on Aug. 3 at approximately 9:30 a.m., Glendale PD patrol officers were dispatched to the Americana at Brand regarding a male who had just slapped a side view mirror of a vehicle. Upon arrival, officers detained Scharrer who matched the description of the suspect. Ultimately the reporting party was non-desirous of any charges. Scharrer was advised that the Americana was banning him from their property and if he returned he would be arrested for trespassing. Scharrer left the location and 45 minutes later, officers were dispatched back to the Americana regarding Scharrer being on the property and trespassing. While on the property, Scharrer stole money from a tip jar inside of a business and fled on foot. Officers located Scharrer in the area and he was arrested and booked for trespassing.
The next morning, Aug. 4 just after 6 a.m., due to Los Angeles County’s “zero-dollar” bail schedule, Scharrer was again released from custody with a notice to appear in court. Immediately upon being released, Scharrer noticed a flatbed truck that was parked directly in front of the Glendale PD jail release door that was unoccupied and running with the keys in the ignition. Scharrer quickly entered the truck and fled in it southbound on Isabel Street. The driver of the truck was delivering a dumpster directly across the street and observed the truck being stolen. Glendale PD was immediately called. The truck was equipped with a tracking device, allowing officers to actively track its location. The truck ultimately arrived at a parking lot in the area of Fruit Street and Foothill Boulevard in the City of La Verne, where officers with the La Verne Police Dept. located it and conducted a traffic stop of the truck, detaining the driver (Scharrer). Glendale PD officers responded to the location and took custody of Scharrer, transporting him back to the Glendale Police Dept. where he was booked for vehicle theft with a $25,000 bail.
Male Arrested After Receiving $85,000 of Stolen Property
On June 23 a grand theft occurred from a retail store on the 200 block of North Glendale Avenue.
The store’s loss prevention personnel provided Glendale police officers with surveillance footage of the grand theft.
On June 30 Glendale police detectives assigned to GPD’s Burglary Detail launched an investigation regarding an organized retail crime group. While working with the store’s national task force manager, GPD detectives learned that multiple stores in LA County were burglarized.
Throughout the investigation, it was learned that the stolen merchandise was being resold on the 2000 block of West 7th Street. Detectives determined that over 5,000 pieces of merchandise were stolen that totaled approximately $85,000.
After conducting surveillance on various locations, 44-year-old Angel Pedro of Los Angeles was arrested for felony theft and receiving known stolen property.