Alleged car thief leads police on chase
NORTHEAST GLENDALE -- An El Sereno man is scheduled to be
arraigned today after leading Glendale Police officers on an
eight-mile chase through the city, into Los Angeles, and back in
again, an officer said.
Officers tried to stop Sergio Ruiz, 20, who was driving a 1987
Ford Thunderbird without license plates when he allegedly ran a red
light about 9:59 p.m. Wednesday, Glendale Police spokeswoman Officer
Leticia Chang said.
Ruiz led the officers into Eagle Rock, then back into Glendale,
where he stopped at a Mobil gas station at Mountain Avenue and
Verdugo Road, Chang said. Officers arrested him at the gas station,
and checked the car's vehicle-identification number, Chang said. The
car was listed as stolen, Chang said.
"It alerts us to approach with caution, that the driver could be
armed and dangerous," Chang said. The circumstances under which the
car was stolen were not known Thursday, she said.
Ruiz was booked on suspicion of grand theft auto, Chang said, and
was being held Thursday on $30,000 bail.
Darleene Barrientos
Man shoots himself on street corner
LA CRESCENTA -- A 23-year-old man shot himself to death in an
apparent suicide Wednesday at the corner of Lowell Avenue and El
Moreno Street, police said.
Armando Carrasco, of La Crescenta, was reported to be suicidal by
his godfather, who hailed down a police officer for help, according
to police reports.
Carrasco, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and depression,
tried to keep Glendale Police officers from entering his godfather's
house in the 3000 block of El Caminito Street, police said. Officers
entered the house with the godfather's permission and tried to talk
to the man, according to reports, but heard Carrasco load a bullet
into a gun and leave through a back door.
Officers were following him when they heard the gunshot and found
Carrasco dead, police said.
Darleene Barrientos
Home is where the fair is
NORTHEAST GLENDALE -- A home ownership fair is set for 9 a.m. to
1 p.m. Saturday at Woodrow Wilson Middle School gymnasium, 1221
Monterey Road.
The fair, hosted by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Glendale), the city of
Glendale and the Fannie Mae Foundation, will feature experts and
information booths for first-time home buyers and current homeowners.
The fair, which is free, will also include sessions on topics such as
credit issues, fixing up a home, the basics of real estate and
predatory lending.
For more information, call Schiff's district office at (626)
304-2727.
Ryan Carter
