Traffic Stop Leads to Arrest of Male in Possession of Three Firearms

On Dec. 3 just before 3:30 p.m., an officer assigned to Glendale PD’s Special Enforcement Detail (SED) was traveling near the intersection of Hawthorne Street and San Fernando Road when they noticed a vehicle traveling with expired registration.

The officer conducted a traffic enforcement stop and contacted the driver, 48-year-old Hamlet Avetisyan of Tujunga. As Avetisyan was exiting the vehicle, he reached under the seat and officers observed a methamphetamine pipe. Assisting units arrived and Avetisyan was found to have a loaded firearm, six blank credit/debit cards with PINs written on the back, three gas cards with PINs written on the back and another individual’s identification card on his person.

A vehicle search produced two firearms (one loaded), three packages of heroin, seven Oxycodon pills, 11 re-encoded blank credit/debit cards with PINs written on the back, and a notebook containing personal identifying information for several individuals.

Avetisyan was subsequently arrested and booked for carrying concealed weapons, possessing controlled substances while armed, identity theft, possessing narcotics and controlled substance paraphernalia and for an outstanding warrant.

Active Robbery Investigation

On Dec. 6 at approximately 4:45 p.m., officers assigned to Glendale PD’s Patrol Bureau were dispatched to a business on the 3700 block of Foothill Boulevard regarding a grand theft that had just occurred.

Upon arrival, officers learned that over $7,500 of electronics, including cellphones and watches, were taken from the business. 

The Glendale Police Dept. is actively investigating this incident.  It is believed that there are three to four suspects involved.

Anyone with information that can assist with the investigation is encouraged to contact the Glendale Police Dept. at (818) 548-4911. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (800-222-8477), use a smartphone by downloading the “P3 MOBILE APP,” or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org.

Male Arrested with Loaded Firearm, Narcotics, and Marijuana

On Dec. 12 at approximately 1:15 p.m., officers assigned to Glendale PD’s Patrol Bureau responded to a hotel on the 6700 block of San Fernando Road regarding an occupant who was refusing to leave and thereby trespassing.

Upon arriving, officers learned that 23-year-old Gagik Arshakyan of North Hollywood (who was arrested in Glendale in September 2021 for possession of a firearm) was the occupant trespassing, and he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest.

Officers went to the room associated with Arshakyan and were ultimately able to make contact and detain him. Inside of the hotel room officers located a loaded firearm and narcotics. Officers searched Arshakyan’s vehicle and located a large quantity of marijuana.

Arshakyan was subsequently arrested and booked for possessing a controlled substance while armed, possessing narcotics, possessing marijuana for sale, and for his outstanding warrant.

Male Arrested for Felony Evading

On Dec. 4 just before 6:30 p.m., the GPD Airship was monitoring Glenoaks Boulevard to assist the Glendale Police Dept.’s efforts. The Airship noticed two vehicles that appeared to be racing and directed ground units to the area, which caught up to the vehicles near the intersection of Allen Avenue and West Glenoaks Boulevard.

Ground units attempted a traffic enforcement stop, but the vehicle failed to yield, initiating a pursuit. The ground pursuit was terminated due to unsafe speeds after reaching approximately 80 miles per hour, but the Airship continued to monitor the vehicle. The driver continued on Glenoaks Boulevard reaching speeds of approximately 90 mph in a 40 mph zone, eventually got onto the freeway reaching speeds in excess of 100 mph before coming to a stop in the City of Pasadena.

The Airship observed the driver, later identified as 18-year-old Frunzik Sargsyan of Panorama, park in a parking lot on the 300 block of West Colorado in Pasadena and then fled on foot. The Airship directed GPD ground units (which were met with several Pasadena officers) to the 200 block of West Green Street in Pasadena where Sargsyan was ultimately contacted, arrested and booked for felony evading. Sargsyan’s vehicle was impounded at the scene, and officers were able to obtain a $100,000 bail hold.

Two Arrested in Possession of Burglary Tools

On Dec. 3 just before 4:30 p.m., an officer assigned to Glendale PD’s Patrol Bureau located a vehicle traveling along the 200 block of South Central Avenue that was wanted out of another city for felony involvement.

The driver of the vehicle entered a parking structure and pulled up next to two parked vehicles in the area and activated the hazard lights. The officer then contacted and detained the driver, 25-year-old Jesus Ramos of Sun Valley, and passenger, 30-year-old Marcelo Ramirez of Los Angeles. Assisting units arrived and officers observed a large floor jack and reciprocating saw inside of the vehicle. Ramirez was found to have methamphetamine on his person.

It should be noted that the vehicles that Ramos parked near are known to be targeted for catalytic converter thefts.

Ramos was arrested and booked for grand theft, possessing burglary tools, and for driving without a license. Ramirez was arrested and booked for grand theft and possessing controlled substances.

Due to LA County’s emergency “zero-dollar” bail order, Ramos and Ramirez were both released with a notice to appear in court at a later date.

Six Arrested for Identity Theft, Possession of Illegal Drugs
and Vehicle Theft – Two Stolen Vehicles Recovered

On Dec. 4 just after 1 p.m., an officer assigned to Glendale PD’s Patrol Bureau located a stolen vehicle in a parking lot of a hotel on the 100 block of North Louise Street. The officer witnessed a male, later identified as 50-year-old Mario Jarquin (transient), close the rear driver side door and trunk of the vehicle. Assisting officers arrived and Jarquin was detained pending further investigation. During a search of Jarquin, officers found several re-encoded credit/debit cards belonging to different individuals, three arrow keys, methamphetamine and a key fob to the stolen vehicle. A subsequent vehicle search produced several more credit/debit cards in other people’s names, a pry bar, a credit card reader, and heavy duty magnets used to demagnetize credit cards. Officers also located a hotel room key on Jarquin and were able to identify a room at the location associated with Jarquin.

Officers knocked on the door of the associated room, gained access and discovered it was occupied by 28-year-old Luis Pedraza of Tujunga, 31-year-old Jesse Abell of Los Angeles, and 36-year-old Roger Nakhla of Los Angeles. Upon entering, officers observed multiple credit cards along with drug paraphernalia in plain view along with several pieces of mail. Upon identifying Pedraza, officers discovered he had a no bail warrant out for his arrest. A search of the room produced over $2,500 in cash, over 30 credit/debit cards belonging to other people, stolen mail, 90 checks in other people’s names, methamphetamine, heroin and a USPS PO box key. Additionally, Abell was found to be in possession of fentanyl.

Jarquin was ultimately arrested and booked for vehicle theft, identity theft and possessing a controlled substance. Abell was transported to the hospital due to having an adverse reaction to recently ingesting fentanyl. He was issued a notice to appear in court for identity theft and possessing narcotics. Nakhla was arrested and booked for identity theft, and Pedraza was arrested and booked for his outstanding warrant.

The next day, on Dec. 5 just after 2 p.m., officers returned to the same hotel regarding an individual making illegal entry to this same hotel room. Upon arrival, the subject had already left the room. While in the parking lot, officers observed a stolen vehicle drive through the lot and park. The driver, 28-year-old Christopher Avalos of Sun Valley, was detained pending further investigation. Avalos was found to be in possession of six shaved keys, metal knuckles, a foldable knife, multiple credit/debit cards and checks all belonging to other individuals. Avalos was arrested and booked for vehicle theft, identity theft, possessing burglary tools and several outstanding warrants. Arnoldo Rocha, 34, of Sun Valley was in the backseat of the stolen vehicle and was also detained. Upon contacting Rocha, officers observed him attempt to discard several credit/debit cards and California IDs belonging to other people (all of the items were recovered). He was subsequently arrested and booked for vehicle theft and identity theft.

A vehicle search produced a gun holster, methamphetamine and a shaved key. During the investigation, it was learned that 36-year-old Leanna Weir of Los Angeles was the person who had returned to the room (in this same stolen vehicle) and retrieved items from the location. Weir was located in the alley and was found to be in possession of an arrow key, a notebook containing various credit card numbers and personal identifying information for other people. She was arrested and booked for vehicle theft and identity theft.