burbankindependent.com
Bill to enable more dog parks signed into law Assemblyman Mike Gatto’s (D-Los Angeles) bill to help local governments create dog parks was signed into law today by Governor Jerry Brown. The idea for the bill came from Glendale City Councilmember Laura Friedman, who told Gatto that liability concerns were preventing small- and medium-sized cities from siting dog parks. “When Glendale was considering opening a dog park, one of the biggest concerns was protecting the City from liability,” said Friedman. “I approached Assemblyman Gatto and am glad to see real action Please see page 2
Key senate committee passes Holden bill to give military a tax break Assemblymember Chris Holden’s legislation to give service members a tax break when they are transferred to California was approved today by the Senate Governance & Finance Committee. AB 143, the Military Use Tax Exemption, would eliminate use taxes – a type of sales tax – on personal property purchased by an active duty military member who has been transferred into the state. “California is home to nearly 13% of active duty Please see page 6
INDEPENDENT MONDAY, AUGUST 19 - AUGUST 25, 2013 - VOLUME 2, NO. 33
Credit card skimming operation busted In the early morning hours of Tuesday, August 13, 2013 the Glendale Police Department – Financial Crimes Unit executed search warrants on a ring of identity theft suspects. Over the last several months, an investigation of nine locations and nine suspects was conducted in cooperation with Orange County Sheriff’s Department, LASD – Identity Theft Task Force, Los Angeles Police Department, California Attorney General’s Office, and United States Secret Service. The warrant searches on the morning of August 13 resulted in the arrest of seven suspects, with three remaining outstanding. The identity theft investigation began in January 2013 when Glendale Officers conducted a traffic stop on a 2011 BMW with tinted windows. Officers recognized the passenger of the vehicle as a person of interest for identity theft by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. Their investigation has been ongoing since June of 2011. The traffic-stop investigation resulted in the arrest of two suspects for posses-
Edgar Alaverdyan
Edvard Martirosyan
Levon Mkrtchian
Emil Andy Morkus
Serob Yegoyan
sion of re-encoded credit cards [passenger Levon Mkrtchian and driver, currently outstanding, David Yezgatyan]. They were later released pending further investigation. Subsequently, members of the Financial Crimes Unit conducted a joint investigation with federal, state, county and local agencies over the next sev-
eral months. The investigation revealed that suspects installed credit card skimming devices on gasoline pumps in the greater Los Angeles and Orange County areas, stealing victims’ credit card information. All crimes involve Identity Theft, Possession of Access Card Information and Conspiracy to commit
such acts. Seized during the investigation were credit card skimmers, computers, components to en-code blank cards, guns, methamphetamine, marijuana, approximately $60,000.00 in cash and two trucks holding bladder tanks to purchase gas at stations with the re-encoded cards stolen from victims.
Three arrested for robbing West Covina council member’s home BY SHEL SEGAL Three men have been arrested after robbing the home of West Covina City Council Member Andrew McIntyre and several other Southern California residences, officials said. Police arrested Jonathan Joseph Wattie, 32 of Whittier, Amanda Joyce Castro, 22 of Pomona and Rodney Diondre Morris, 21 of South Los Angeles. Morris is also currently on active probation for robbery, officials said. All three suspects have been booked for robbery, receiving stolen property and conspiracy at the San Bernardino County Jail with bail currently set at $1 million each. Officials said it is believed that this case McIntyre
Karine Mahrabyan
being robbed was a random act and that he was not targeted because of his position with the city. McIntyre’s home on Fircroft Street was robbed late on Aug. 8, officials said. The robbers allegedly pulled up to his home, got out of their car and approached McIntyre while one was holding a gun. McIntyre said he handed over his wallet, which contained his city council member badge. The suspect then ran across the street to a waiting vehicle described as a white Acura Integra occupied by a second male and then sped away, officials said. A day later, the suspects Please see page 5
FREE
County of LA disappointed with court of appeals decision on water quality The County of Los Angeles is disappointed with an opinion issued Thursday by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that holds the County and the Los Angeles County Flood Control District responsible for storm water and urban runoff pollution. The opinion comes just seven months after the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously reversed an earlier opinion by the Ninth Circuit in the same case, which was brought by the Natural Resources Defense Council and Santa Monica Baykeeper against the County and the District. Gail Farber, Chief Engineer of the Flood Control Please see page 5
Daycare center shut down after toddler tested positive for pot Unsafe conditions force city to shut down operation Police shuttered a home daycare center in Glendale Wednesday and arrested its director after a 2-year-old girl tested positive for marijuana, according to numerous reports. Bina’s Family Child Care Center, in the 3200 block of Orange Avenue, was closed after police found “mouse and rat droppings and drug paraphernalia -- a bong -- suggesting marijuana use at the home.” The home also had no electricity and the toilets were not working, police confirmed. In addition they found evidence that the home was completely unsanitary. The 2 year old toddler was transported to hospital and the condition is unknown at this time.
-Courtesy Photo
The center’s director, Roubena Hartounian, 50, was arrested on Wednesday in connection with the case.. Hartounian lives in Tujunga,
she uses Glendale property as the day care center according to police reports. A criminal investigation is ongoing.