First published in the Jan. 28 print issue of the Burbank Leader.
The Burbank Police Department arrested a robbery suspect Wednesday after searching homes on North Orchard Drive.
The incident occurred at about 3 p.m., after officers responded to Starz Liquor, located at 1800 West Olive Ave., regarding a robbery report. The clerk told officers a man entered the establishment, selected merchandise and left without paying. When the clerk confronted the suspect outside, the man allegedly assaulted her and fled.
The victim provided officers with a description of the suspect, his last known location and surveillance video of the incident. The suspect was later located a short distance away, but he fled into a residential neighborhood after officers attempted to detain him.
A perimeter was established around the 400 block of North Orchard Drive. Officers conducted a search of the properties within the perimeter and found the suspect hiding in a detached garage of a residence. The suspect refused to comply with officers’ commands and was bitten by a police K-9 during the apprehension.
The 27-year-old man was arrested and booked for robbery and burglary, both felonies, and was scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 27. He is being held in lieu of a $50,000 bond.
During the booking process, an officer recognized the suspect from a commercial burglary that occurred on Jan. 23. In that incident, the suspect entered Club Pilates, located at 209 E. Orange Grove Ave., at about 2 a.m., where he stole electronics and cash. The establishment reported it to the BPD and provided surveillance video of the incident. The suspect was questioned about the burglary and admitted to the theft, police said.
Formal charges are pending review by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
