Man accused of causing lockdown is arrested

The man accused of fleeing authorities, causing a three-hour lockdown of a Montrose neighborhood, was arrested this week after allegedly trying to escape with stolen merchandise from a Target in Burbank.

Lang Patrick Martinez, 37, of Simi Valley, was arrested Tuesday after a brief vehicle and foot chase after he allegedly tried to steal electronics from the store in the Empire Center, according to Burbank police.

The California Highway Patrol had identified Martinez as a “person of interest” in a similar incident Jan. 24 that started with an alleged burglary at an Orchard Supply Hardware and ended in a Montrose neighborhood, prompting authorities to put 34 homes under lockdown while they searched the area for about three hours. At the time, he was considered armed and dangerous.

In Burbank on Tuesday, a police officer tried to make contact with Martinez in the Target parking lot as he started to load the alleged stolen merchandise into his car. That’s when he jumped into his car and sped off, according to a police report.

The chase ended near the Sears on Laurel Canyon and Victory Boulevard in North Hollywood after a brief foot pursuit, police said.

He was arrested on suspicion of felony evading a police officer, commercial burglary and petty theft, according to the criminal complaint. He remains in custody in lieu of $145,000 bail.

Martinez has six theft- and burglary-related convictions on his record dating back to 1986, according to Los Angeles Superior Court records.

California Highway Patrol Sgt. Marcy Rangel said investigators will want to question Martinez regarding the traffic collisions he allegedly caused during the Jan. 24 pursuit.

Martinez is scheduled to appear in Los Angeles County Superior Court Feb. 16 for a preliminary hearing.