Vandals

$10,000 reward for information after church covered in anti-religious graffiti.LA CRESCENTA -- The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors announced a $10,000 reward Tuesday for information leading to the arrest and conviction of vandals who destroyed doors, screens and playground equipment and sprayed "God is Gay" on Gethsemane Lutheran Church. The vandals who defaced the church at 2723 Orange Ave. on Sunday are wanted for committing a hate crime, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Det. Daniel Zumer said.

GLENDALE — Matt Avanesian has owned Le Petite Patisserie for 11 years and never imagined his business would be targeted by vandals, but then came 2:50 a.m. Saturday, along with a phone call from his alarm company. Police were at the bakery investigating the handiwork of vandals, who had shattered his storefront window on the 1000 block of Brand Boulevard. Avanesian rushed over to the bakery and later paid $500 to replace the broken window. “I think that if you can replace something with money, it’s nothing to worry about,” he said.

GLENDALE — City officials have often sought restitution from the parents of teenagers who spray-paint graffiti on city property and businesses. Now, the county will follow suit. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance on Aug. 19 that would impose fines and other penalties against vandals under 18 years old as well as their parents or guardians in felony cases. The city of Glendale and its Police Department has always sought restitution in graffiti cases, said Sam Engel, the city’s neighborhood services administrator.

Paul M. Anderson GLENDALE -- Glendale police are investigating a rash of pellet gun shootings that have shattered the windows of businesses and cars throughout the city. Weeks after a string of pellet gun shootings, several businesses and car owners called police reporting that someone shot out their windows between Sunday night and Monday morning. The vandals shot out windows at Nordstrom, 200 W. Broadway; Conroy's Flowers, 301 S. Glendale Ave.; and Krause's Sofas, 115 N. Central Ave. Six pellet holes were left in the windows of World Auto Parts & Salvage, 5228 San Fernando Road, according to a police report.

Robert Chacon Vandals targeted neighborhoods in La Canada Flintridge last week in a rash of pellet- gun shootings that left the windows of several high-end cars shattered. Los Angeles County Sheriff's detectives said that the shootings are related and happened within a few blocks of each other. "It did happen in a cluster," said Det. Pat Murphy of the Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station. "It was done by someone who lives nearby or has friends that live close by."

Jackson Bell Three windows at Glendale Superior Court were shattered overnight, the second time in a week and the fourth time in a year that vandals damaged the courthouse, authorities said Thursday. Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies arrived at the courthouse on Broadway at about 6 a.m. Tuesday and found that a glass door in the back was shattered, said Deputy Rosa Collins, the assistant branch supervisor. Windows in the sheriff's office and public defenders' office were also damaged, police said.

LA CRESCENTA — For the second time in less then four months, a building under construction at Crescenta Valley High School has been vandalized, causing thousands of dollars in damage, officials said. Last week someone entered Building 1000 and spray painted graffiti on several surfaces. The building is part of the school’s repair project to correct poor construction that occurred during a $41-million remodeling project in 2002. In March, four Crescenta Valley High students were arrested on suspicion of vandalizing classrooms in Building 7000, which was also under construction at the time.

It's fascinating to see how words enter our language. My latest issue of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Encyclopedia describes the Vandals as a Germanic people who ruled a kingdom in North Africa from 429 to 524 A.D. They invaded Italy and sacked Rome in 455 A.D. They plundered the city and destroyed its artworks to such a horrendous extent that their name became synonymous with willful desecration and destruction....

Burbank police say they have identified a person of interest in their invesitgation into who threw a brick through the window of Councilman David Gordon's optometry business. Police officials are working with the city attorney's office to determine a possible misdemeanor charge of vandalism for the person who allegedly threw the brick on March 16 in the 800 block of Hollywood Way, Sgt. Darin Ryburn said today. Police would not release any details about the identity of the person, citing the ongoing investigation.

Burbank police this week continue to investigate an alleged act of vandalism at Councilman David Gordon's optometry business on Hollywood Way. Burbank police said they received a report of gunshots in the 800 block of Hollywood Way on March 16, near where Gordon has his optometry practice. When police arrived, they discovered a broken window and a brick. Authorities searched the area, but did not find any suspects.  “We are looking for any witnesses that may have been in the area during the time of the incident,” Sgt. Darin Ryburn said.  Officers are also reviewing video surveillance for additional leads.

A Glendale man faces felony vandalism charges for allegedly causing nearly $10,000 in damage to more than 25 sites throughout the San Fernando Valley. Kevin Crawford, 21, was arrested Tuesday by Burbank police at his home in Glendale as part of an ongoing investigation into a tagging crew that has hit sites in North Hollywood, Burbank and along the Golden State (5) and Ventura (134) freeways. A second man, 18-year-old Deymond Fowler, was also arrested at the house on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon in an unrelated case, according to Burbank police.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's detectives are asking for the public's help with identifying two men who are wanted in connection with vandalizing Rosemont Middle School this summer. Detectives at the Crescenta Valley station said the men allegedly used beige-colored spray paint on June 16 to vandalize several areas of the campus on the 4700 block of Rosemont Avenue in La Crescenta. The damage was estimated at $2,000, Det. Brian Tibbett said. The first man was described as wearing a blue and black long-sleeved shirt and sunglasses.

A reputed gang member was charged with felony vandalism after he allegedly spray-painted graffiti on the Pioneer Drive and Patterson Avenue tunnel. Narbe Ohanessian, 23, of Glendale is scheduled to appear Nov. 9 in the Los Angeles County Superior Court in Burbank for a preliminary hearing on the vandalism offense, according to court officials. Ohanessian, who claims ties to a Southeast Los Angeles gang, was arrested Friday after witnesses reported hearing sounds from a spray can in the tunnel, according to Glendale police reports.

A 25-year-old man was arrested Saturday after he allegedly vandalized a car for no apparent reason and threatened to kill a pair of security guards, officials said. Johnny Arrazola was taken into custody about 8:10 a.m. on suspicion of vandalism and criminal threats after he told the guards “I'm gonna kill all of you” at the Park Towers on the 300 block of Pioneer Drive, according to Glendale Police Department reports. Arrazola also allegedly damaged a resident's parked red Ford Focus, according to police reports.

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.

SOUTH GLENDALE — A 49-year-old Glendale man was arrested early Sunday on suspicion of scratching seven vehicles with a knife, possibly to retaliate against his ex-wife, police said. Jorjik Mooshidian, 49, was arrested on suspicion of vandalism and causing thousands of dollars’ worth in damage to the vehicles, Glendale Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz said. He entered a residential parking garage for his ex-wife’s residence about 2 a.m. in the 400 block of Myrtle Street and scratched exes and lines on the vehicles, Lorenz added.

GLENDALE — Prosecutors have charged a 19-year-old La Crescenta man with spray-painting graffiti on the walls and playground areas of Valley View Elementary School. Travis Morgan was charged with one felony count of vandalism for causing more than $400 in damage on the campus and a misdemeanor count of illegally possessing a hypodermic needle, according to a Los Angeles County Superior Court criminal complaint. School staff notified police about 6:45 a.m. Jan. 12 about the graffiti, which covered campus walls and playgrounds on the 4900 block of Maryland Avenue, according to Glendale police reports.