Police Car

NORTH GLENDALE — Police are investigating a rash of vehicle burglaries in a neighborhood north of the Foothill (210) Freeway. Officers started receiving calls from residents in north Glendale last week that multiple cars were being burglarized in the area, Glendale Police Sgt. Bob Zahradien said. Since last weekend, eight burglary reports were filed, including incidents on Burritt Way, Santa Carlotta, Montrose Avenue, Lauderdale Avenue and Brook Hill Terrace, police records show.

A woman under arrest for alleged drunk driving kicked out the rear window of a Burbank police patrol car Thursday night and tried to escape near Verdugo Road, authorities said. The officers said they were forced to pull over and catch the woman, Samantha Sambucetti, 22, while calling in additional units to assist. She now faces felony vandalism charges, according to police.

A 32-year-old parolee, who was reportedly drunk at the time of his arrest Sunday night, allegedly kicked out the rear window of a Glendale police patrol while being detained, officials said. Police had already arrested Christian Martinez earlier that evening after he was yelling at employees inside the Carl's Jr. on the 400 block of West Los Feliz Road while holding a beer can, according to police reports. Officers tried talking to him outside the restaurant, but he was “uncooperative and belligerent,” according to the incident report.

Darleene Barrientos A car stolen from a man killed in his home is a key piece of evidence in the Glendale Police Department's investigation of his death. Herair Jordan, 61, was found Monday bound in the hallway of his home in the 1000 block of Dolorita Avenue by his son, who was returning from work, Glendale Police spokeswoman Officer Leticia Chang said. Jordan suffered a cut to his head, said Capt. David Campbell, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office.

A 36-year-old man was found guilty this week of kidnapping a Burbank woman in 2006 and then raping her at a hotel in Glendale, officials said. Edward Nikolayan was convicted Monday of kidnapping, drugging, raping and assaulting the woman on Sept. 19, 2006, according to Jane Robison, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. He faces life in prison when he is sentenced on May 16 in Los Angeles County Superior Court in Pasadena, according Robison. U.S. Marshals arrested Nikolayan in December 2009 in New York on an outstanding arrest warrant related to the rape case, according to Glendale police.

A 36-year-old man was sentenced Thursday to life in prison for kidnapping a Burbank woman in 2006 and raping her in a Glendale hotel room , officials said. Edward Nikolayan must also serve six to eight years concurrently for the additional charges of drugging, raping and assaulting the woman. “He treated her like a piece of meat,” Los Angeles County Deputy Dist. Atty. Brook White said during Nikolayan's sentencing. “She could have died.” Nikolayan won't be eligible for parole for at least seven years and will be required to register as a sex offender.

Bauhaus lead singer Peter Murphy pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges that he allegedly rear-ended a vehicle in Glendale and fled to Los Angeles , where an eyewitness blocked his Subaru until police arrived. Murphy, 55 - who did not appear in a Los Angeles County Superior Court on Tuesday - entered his plea via his attorney, Robert Wilson. Murphy is charged with three misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, hit-and-run driving and possessing methamphetamine, according to a Los Angeles County Superior Court criminal complaint.

The following incidents were taken from police reports. 1500 block of East Colorado Street: An 18-year-old Burlingame man was arrested Thursday on suspicion of possessing a forged ID. 300 block of Mission Road: A 36-year-old Glendale man was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of possessing marijuana. Windsor Road and Brand Boulevard: A 37-year-old Glendale man was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of possessing crack cocaine. 500 block of Galer Place: A 24-year-old Glendale man was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of burglary and giving a false name to officers.