Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Suspect Search Prompts School, Neighborhood Lockdown

Fremont Elementary students and Sparr Heights residents were restricted from leaving or entering the area for several hours while police searched for two suspects, one who still remains at large.

UPDATE: A Sparr Heights resident reported that a man was prying open a window in his neighbor's backyard, prompting an area lockdown for , police said.

The suspects were reported about 10:55 a.m. in the ,

An officer was patrolling the area when the call came in about a burglary attempt and saw the suspects, Glendale police Sgt. Javier Ruiz told Patch. The suspects started running down the driveway and ran on Las Palmas. 

Find out what's happening in Montrose-La Crescentawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Officers found one of the suspects and later recovered backpacks containing evidence behind one of the Sparr Heights homes, Ruiz said. The type of evidence was not disclosed pending an investigation.

One of the suspects fled and could not be found, Ruiz said.

Find out what's happening in Montrose-La Crescentawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Police were not releasing a suspect description, however, they know who the suspect is, Sgt. Dave Higgins told Patch. The suspect's identity will be released following the investigation and arrest.

Zakarian said poilce dogs were searching for the second suspect.

"Several other witnesses saw them at other locations," Zakarian said. "[There are] no other confirmed burglaries at this time. [Officers are] still searching for the second."

Helicopters were swarming the area looking for the burglary suspects, according Sparr Heights Neighbors, a public Facebook page.

Allen Brandstater, a Sparr Heights resident, shared this information on the page:

At 12:40 p.m. I drove down from Oak Circle and spoke with Matt [Zakarian], the GPD officer who has spoken to our Neighborhood Watch meetings.

Residential burglaries (more than one) shortly before 11 a.m. Traffic blocked off from La Crescenta Avenue, up to and above Fremont School north to Sunview, for about eight or ten blocks west to east. Some of you probably heard the loudspeaker from half an hour ago, warning them to surrender.

I drove around the perimeter. There must be 40 Glendale police or more swarming the area. Several were outfitted in SWAT gear, speaking to a homeowner in his doorway at Sunview and Las Palmas.

For the day watch, that mean close to half the on-duty police force is at the scene. As of 1 p.m. the two thieves have not been located.

If someone has further news, please sure it. Be alert and keep your doors and windows locked.

Sparr Heights streets were closed down during the search for a possible burglary suspect, according to CV Weekly on Twitter.

Check back with Patch for more updates, including further investigation information from Glendale Police.


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