Road Rage

GLENDALE — A Glendale man was stabbed by a motorist outside his home Thursday night after a road-rage incident on the Golden State (5) Freeway and Western Avenue, police said. The man was taken to a local hospital, where he was treated for a stab wound to his stomach, Glendale Police Det. Keith Soboleski said. The injured man was recovering Friday at the hospital, he added. Detectives are asking for the public's help in identifying the motorist, who hurt the victim and fled from the scene.

Tania Chatila Construction on Brand Boulevard has been anything but easy for residents, commuters and businesses. Tempers are short and horns seem to blare more often. In spite of that, police say, Glendale residents continue to obey traffic laws. "There is no increase in citations in that area," Glendale Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz said. "The construction is so small, traffic can only do one thing -- move through that area." In fact, it is straight thoroughfare areas with no parking where there is usually a reduced number of accidents and traffic problems, Lorenz said.

When voters go to the polls this November, a great deal of focus will be on the presidential choices, but there are some very important propositions and measures that will also be on the ballot that need an equal amount of scrutiny. One of those important measures is Measure R, a 30-year tax plan that will generate $40 billion for traffic congestion relief projects in Los Angeles County. L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the L.A. County Metropolitan Transportation Authority are proponents of the bill.

GLENDALE - A Glendale police officer has been ordered to enroll in anger management sessions after admitting to hitting a motorist during an off-duty road-rage incident in Burbank, court officials said. Glendale Police Officer Eric Ritter accepted a plea deal on Monday to plead no contest in the Los Angeles County Superior Court in Burbank to an amended misdemeanor count of disturbing the peace, which includes a section of fighting in public, court officials said. The Burbank city attorney's office originally charged Ritter with one misdemeanor battery charge for striking Armando Alvarez in October.

PASADENA — A jury on Monday found two North Hollywood men guilty of four counts of attempted murder for shooting a Glendale man and his friends on Halloween four years ago during a road-rage incident. The verdict came in Pasadena Superior Court after nearly four days of deliberation in the trial of Mkrtich Melkonian and Hrant Barsegyan, both 21. Melkonian and Barsegyan were also found guilty of shooting at an occupied vehicle. The jury spent more time deliberating the fate of Melkonian than the entire length of the three-day trial.

I am intrigued by all the letters to this paper about the present state of driving in Glendale, specifically the bad drivers who seem to have grown in numbers. I can’t help but think back to a certain aspect of my own misspent youth when I was behind the wheel, and I am reminded of just how we are all put at risk by entrusting a 16-year-old with horsepower on our streets. I am not proud to admit it, but for several years I was a menace to society, as were a number of my buddies who gloried in racing over mountain roads, exceeding the speed limit and executing maneuvers that were, by anyone’s standards, unsafe.

GLENDALE — A Glendale man who was stabbed last week after a road-rage incident was recovering from his injuries at home Tuesday, police said. The man was released Saturday from a local hospital after having sustained a stab wound that sliced his liver, Glendale Police Det. Keith Soboleski said. "He is doing OK," Soboleski said. "He is on bed rest. " Also on Tuesday, detectives released additional details about the attack as they continue to seek the public's help in identifying the suspects who fled from the scene on the 1000 block of Western Avenue after the attack on Thursday.

GLENDALE — A Glendale police officer has been put on administrative leave after prosecutors charged him in an alleged off-duty road rage incident in Burbank. The Burbank city attorney's office filed the misdemeanor battery charge Dec. 10 against Glendale Police Officer Eric Ritter, who pleaded not guilty to striking Armando Alvarez, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court documents. When Glendale city administrators found out about the charges, they placed the officer on leave, said Human Resources Director Matt Doyle.

Man victim of road-rage incident An Eagle Rock man reported Tuesday that a gun was pulled on him in traffic in an apparent road-rage incident, according to a Glendale Police report. The man was traveling on Brand Boulevard approaching Chevy Chase Drive when a black BMW pulled a close U-turn in front of him, he told police. After the man honked his horn, the driver of the BMW turned around and started weaving through traffic to catch up with him and cut him off, according to the report.

The following incidents were taken from police reports: 1000 block of Western Avenue: A 56-year-old Glendale woman reported that her 2003-04 tax returns were stolen Monday. 500 block of North Brand Boulevard: A 48-year-old Burbank man reported that his watch, cellphone batteries, CDs, DVDs and a leather briefcase were stolen Monday. The loss was $1,700. Louise and Lomita streets: A Glendale man reported that his 1989 Ford Probe was stolen Sunday.