Calese Crowder, 39, was arrested Friday afternoon after two stores in Glendale reported a man acting suspiciously and bending down around people, Glendale police told NBC4 Investigates. Police reviewed security camera video from both locations and Crowder was identified as the suspect.

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He was arrested a short time later in the 100 block of South Brand Boulevard and arrested on suspicion of a parole violation. Crowder was being held without bail.

Law enforcement sources told NBC4 Investigates that one of the businesses was a Marshalls clothing store. At about the same time a grocery store in the 1500 block of Glenoaks Bouelvard called 911 to report a customer bending down behind people and attempting to sniff, the sources said.

The investigation is ongoing and the case will be submitted to prosecutors for possible criminal charges.

In July 2025, Crowder was arrested at the Burbank Nordstrom Rack after reports of someone roaming the women’s department and sexually harassing a female customer, according to the Burbank Police Department.

The next month, he was arrested again after allegedly sniffing a woman’s behind inside a Walgreens store in Burbank.

Crowder has a history of similar offenses in Glendale and Burbank dating back to 2021, according to police.

Crowder was arrested Nov. 24 after failing to meet an annual sex-offender registration requirement for more than two months, Glendale police told NBC4 Investigates. The Glendale Police Department Assaults Unit arrested Crowder at his residence.

Crowder was on parole at the time for a burglary.

In December, he was sentenced to 99 days in jail for a parole violation. Crowder was back before a judge in April for parole violations and was sentenced to 105 days in jail.

Time is highly flexible, or seemingly so, in the “Star Trek” universe, as any fan of the Gene Roddenberry-created phenomenon well knows.

A Starfleet officer may be at the helm of a galaxy-exploring ship one moment and then on a distant planet, sometime in the future or past, a nanosecond later.

But here on Planet Earth, the progression of hours, minutes, months, and years stays rather orderly, which means this: If you’d like to take part in a celebration paying tribute to the 60th anniversary of the pop culture phenomenon, you will definitely have to buy tickets for very specific dates, times, and locations.

Prepare to beam up at the Alex Theatre in Glendale over the first weekend of September, thanks to a line-up of four “Star Trek” films paired with a quartet of classic episodes from the original series.

“Star Trek: The Motion Picture” leads off the series on Sept. 4, along with a screening of “The Changeling,” an episode from Season 2.

“Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” is the Sept. 5 film, and few fans will be surprised to learn that “Space Seed” is the classic episode set to accompany it (that is, of course, when the iconic Khan makes his unforgettable first appearance).

The Sept. 6 flick is “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock,” and “Amok Time” will play as well.

And on Labor Day Monday, the 7th of September? “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home” sets us up for a whale-y good time, along with a showing of “The City on the Edge of Forever.”

A festival pass is $54, if you plan on spending the entire weekend at the Alex, but there are single tickets, too.

Plenty of revelers sporting Starfleet-style splendor and galactic get-ups will be in attendance, we imagine, as well as the occasional Klingon and Vulcan.

As far as bringing your pet Ceti eel to the theater? That is definitely not recommended.

Alamo Drafthouse in Downtown Los Angeles will also be screening the four films and the episodes listed above over Labor Day Weekend; tickets are available now.

The cinema also has a special “Star Trek” pint glass and popcorn bucket available for pre-order; check out the Spock-tastic design here.

If you’d simply like to “engage” with Star Trek Day in your own way, mark star date Sept. 8 in your captain’s log now.

Street Food Cinema will call upon the Autry Museum of the American West Sept. 8, bringing two episodes hailing from two “Star Trek” eras: “The Man Trap,” the pilot from the original series and “Orders of Magnitude” from “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.”

Entry is free for the event, which is presented by CBS Studios and Paramount+, but reservations are required.

The four-day tournament will be held Sept. 4-7 at the Hilton Los Angeles North/Glendale, returning to the city following a successful run in 2025.

Organized by the American Chess Academy, the tournament will feature players of various ages and skill levels competing in seven sections.    

“I’ve always appreciated chess because it teaches patience, strategy and the importance of thinking several moves ahead,” Mayor Ardy Kassakhian said. “But what I enjoy most is how the game brings people together. You can sit across the board from someone of a different age, background or experience and immediately share a common language. That makes Glendale a fitting home for this tournament.”

In addition, Grandmaster Levon Aronian will take part in a simultaneous chess exhibition Aug. 28 at the Center for Armenian Arts, 250 N. Orange St., beginning at 6 p.m., when he will play multiple opponents at the same time.

Admission is free and open to the public.

The tournament features seven sections: Open, U2300, U2100, U1900, U1700, U1500, and U1300.    

For more information on the Southern California Open Chess Tournament and how to register, visit GlendalePlaysChess.com or contact Armen Ambartsoumian at AmericanChessAcademy@gmail.com.

The investigation began after detectives received reports of unknown individuals removing mail belonging to residents at an apartment complex in the 500 block of West Colorado Street.

During the investigation, detectives identified multiple suspects and linked them to specific units within the complex, police said.

Investigators determined the suspects allegedly used other people’s personal identifying information to fraudulently obtain credit cards, which were then mailed to units within the apartment complex.

Detectives also discovered that the suspects had allegedly tampered with mailbox keyholes and replaced them with “dummy” keyholes, allowing them to gain unauthorized access to residents’ mail, according to police.

On Aug. 13, detectives served multiple search warrants at the apartment complex as part of the investigation. Here, five suspects were arrested and booked into the Glendale Police Jail on various charges related to fraud, identity theft and burglary.

The suspects were identified as Razmik Barseghyan, 36, Robert Poghosyan, 27, Vahan Kalashyan, 35, Armen Harutyunyan, 26, and Artyom Militonyan, 27.

During the searches, detectives recovered a significant amount of personal identity information belonging to other people, credit card re-encoding devices, cash, gold and numerous credit cards, police said.

Authorities say they are investigating the alleged fraudulent activity and working to identify additional potential victims whose personal information may have been used to obtain fraudulent credit cards or commit other fraud.

The investigation remains ongoing. 

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Glendale Police Department’s Financial Crimes Unit at 818-548-4840.

The collision was reported around 1:54 p.m. on Pacific Avenue near Stocker Street, where a preschool called Grandview House is located. The school shares the same address as Temple Sinai of Glendale.

NewsChopper4 captured images of a black sedan that had slammed into the facility, scattering wood panels across the lot, which also appears to include a playground.

Police say they believe a 79-year-old woman was trying to make a U-turn in the parking lot when she confused the gas pedal and the brake, accidentally accelerating into the building.

Glendale resident Mahmoud Hijazi said he heard the crash and knew he had to do something.

“The teacher started screaming, yelling big time, so I know something’s wrong,” he said. “Big boom. I got scared. I look around. I didn’t see nothing. Within a second, I saw smoke.”

Hijazi jumped over his fence and saw a car crashed through the wall of the preschool, ending up in a classroom full of children.

“No need to, after that, talk about it or think about it. Just save the kids,” he said. “I start to take the kids out. One by one, two by two. I have asthma, I start breathing hard, but I have to do it.”

He says he found two children under a slab of debris that had collapsed on top of them. Inside the crashed car, he saw an elderly woman in the driver’s seat.

“I took her outside, make her sit. She was crying and scared,” Hijazi said.

After the crash, parents showed up to the school in tears, with some leading their children away from the wreckage.

A white SUV was also seen on the lot with damage to its rear left bumper.

Authorities told NBCLA that the hospitalized children suffered non-life-threatening injuries and are students at the school, according to fire officials.

Investigators believe the crash was accidental, and no arrests are expected. Driving under the influence is also ruled out as a factor, according to Glendale police.

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The solo-car crash happened near Verdugo and Glenoaks at about 7:45 p.m., according to the Glendale Police Department.

Police say no one was hurt and no arrests were made. The home had minor damage, the department said.

The cause of the collision is unknown.

The Glendale Rental Assistance and Stabilization Program, or GRASP, will begin accepting applications Monday, according to city officials.    

The application period will remain open through July 20.    

According to the city, the program is designed to assist renters who have experienced a destabilizing financial event, such as job loss, major medical expenses, a utility shutoff, an eviction notice or other housing-related hardship within the past year.

To qualify, applicants must be Glendale residents, have a household income below 80% of the area median income and provide documentation verifying their eligibility and financial hardship.    

City officials said applications will be used to determine eligibility and create a ranked list of qualified households based on urgency of need and other vulnerability factors.

Depending on their circumstances, eligible applicants may receive emergency rental assistance, short-term income support, utility assistance or other housing-related aid intended to help them remain in stable housing.   

In emergency situations, assistance may cover up to six months of rent and utilities per household, according to the city.    

The Glendale City Council established the program in September 2025 using funding from the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency’s Renter Protection and Homelessness Prevention allocation. The council later approved additional guidance regarding the program’s structure.    

City officials said future application periods will depend on the availability of funding after assistance is provided to applicants with the highest level of need.

Homeowners, mortgage holders and people who are currently experiencing homelessness are not eligible for the program. The city said the application does not request or retain information regarding immigration status.

Applications and additional information will be available at engage.glendaleca.gov/GRASP.

The Glendale Rental Assistance and Stabilization Program, or GRASP, will begin accepting applications July 6, according to city officials.    

The application period will remain open through July 20.    

According to the city, the program is designed to assist renters who have experienced a destabilizing financial event, such as job loss, major medical expenses, a utility shutoff, an eviction notice or other housing-related hardship within the past year.

To qualify, applicants must be Glendale residents, have a household income below 80% of the area median income and provide documentation verifying their eligibility and financial hardship.

City officials said applications will be used to determine eligibility and create a ranked list of qualified households based on urgency of need and other vulnerability factors.

Depending on their circumstances, eligible applicants may receive emergency rental assistance, short-term income support, utility assistance or other housing-related aid intended to help them remain in stable housing.    

In emergency situations, assistance may cover up to six months of rent and utilities per household, according to the city.    

The Glendale City Council established the program in September 2025 using funding from the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency’s Renter Protection and Homelessness Prevention allocation. The council later approved additional guidance regarding the program’s structure.

City officials said future application periods will depend on the availability of funding after assistance is provided to applicants with the highest level of need.

Homeowners, mortgage holders and people who are currently experiencing homelessness are not eligible for the program. The city said the application does not request or retain information regarding immigration status.

Applications and additional information will be available at https://engage.glendaleca.gov/GRASP.

Officers responded to a burglary in the 12600 block of Herron just before 8 p.m., according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

When officers arrived, they spotted the possible getaway vehicle nearby. The driver didn’t pull over, prompting a chase, the LAPD said.

The pursuit ended in a three-vehicle crash at Goode Avenue and Brand Boulevard, where the driver was taken into custody, police said. Glendale police took the other two suspects into custody.

Police say four people, including one of the suspects, were injured in the crash.

The LAPD said the residents were not home during the burglary and that nothing or very little was taken.

Officers responded to a call for service involving some kind of assault with a weapon at the 3700 block of Honolulu Avenue.

When officers arrived on scene, a police involved shooting occurred and a man died at the scene.

Details on the man’s identity were not yet known.

According to Glendale police, there is no threat to the community.

The 3600 and 3700 block of Honolulu Avenue are expected to be shut down for several hours as the investigation continues, Glendale police said.

The fire was reported at about 10:30 p.m. in the 1100 block of Sonora Avenue. After the fire, two bodies were found in the building.

Details about their identities and the cause of the fire were not immediately available.

Anyone with information about the fire was asked to call Glendale police homicide detectives at 818-548-4840.

City officials said a list of unclaimed funds will be published in a local newspaper for two consecutive weeks, as required by state law, identifying individuals and entities that may be eligible to recover the money.

If the funds are not claimed within 45 to 60 days of the first notice, they will become city property, according to the city’s Finance Department.

“Some smaller amounts, such as unclaimed funds under $15 that have been outstanding for over a year, may automatically be transferred to the City’s General Fund without public notice,” city officials said in a statement.

Residents can search for unclaimed funds through the city’s website or its online unclaimed property portal, and may submit claims either online or by filing a form with the Finance Department.

The city’s website is here.

The unclaimed property portal is here.

Claims must be submitted by June 30, officials said.

Investigators for the Glendale Police Department said the case began in February 2026 when a Nordstrom employee in Glendale identified a suspect attempting to return a counterfeit item. One month later, officers were contacted by a member of the Nordstrom Investigation Team regarding the suspicious activity.

Investigators identified the suspects as Arpineh Sarkisian, 40, and Argin Gharapetian, 32. Authorities believe the suspects made more than 224 high-end designer purchases since 2019, which included clothes and cosmetics, all of which were later returned. 

The estimated loss to Nordstrom exceeds $300,000, with more than $30,000 in confirmed losses, according to authorities. Items included YSL handbags worth $2,950 and more than $3,000, as well as Gucci shoes valued at $1,900. 

According to investigators, the suspects would make the purchases online and then return counterfeit versions of the items both in-store and through Nordstrom’s distribution center. 

The suspects were served with a warrant on April 22 at their residence. Here, officers seized large quantities of high-end designer clothes, shoes, and cosmetics. Also found were counterfeit items, tags, and stolen property. 

Investigators said evidence indicated authentic items were being resold through an online merchant platform.

Following the search, Nordstrom identified an additional $35,000 in fraudulent returns tied to the scheme, bringing the confirmed loss to approximately $50,000.

Sarkisian and Gharapetian face charges of felony grand theft, receiving stolen property, and theft by pretense. They will return to court  Aug. 31, 2026, for arraignment.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Glendale Police Financial Crimes Unit at 818-548-3101.

The LAUSD Board of Education adopted a policy in 2020 to close schools on Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day. Students and teachers in the Glendale Unified School District have been given the day off on April 24 since the 2013-14 school year.

A bill establishing Genocide Remembrance Day as a state holiday to be observed on April 24 and permitting public schools and community colleges to close in observance of the holiday was signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2022.

The Los Angeles area is home to the largest population of Armenians in the world outside of Armenia itself.    

Multiple events are planned throughout Los Angeles County Friday to mark Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, including at Los Angeles City Hall where the City Council will conduct what a spokesman for Councilmember Adrin Nazarian called “a solemn but hopeful presentation” of a scroll to Arman Tsarukyan, who is ranked second in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s lightweight division, at 10 a.m.

Wreaths and flowers will be placed at the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Memorial Park in Pasadena beginning at 1:30 p.m. Speakers will include retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Mark MacCarley, the chair of the American Armenian National Security Institute, which seeks to educate congressional, military and civilian national security decision-makers on American and Armenian defense and strategic interests.

The Armenian Youth Federation will hold a march at 2 p.m. from LaCienega Park in Beverly Hills to the Turkish Consulate General on Wilshire  Boulevard.

The Truth And Accountability League will conduct a public commemoration honoring the victims of the Armenian Genocide and recognizing leading public figures for their impact and service from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the Glendale Central Library.

The honorees will be Reps. Judy Chu, D-Monterey Park and Laura Friedman, D-Glendale, political commentator Ana Kasparian, former West Hollywood Mayor Sepi Shyne and artist Arpi Jinbashian Krikorian.    

The league bills itself as a nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 2020 in response “to a significant increase in anti-Armenian racism, defamation, hate crimes and Armenophobia.” It  monitors and confront bias, disinformation, propaganda, and slander of the Armenian people and culture at the media level, including social media, academics, intelligentsia and public policy.    

On April 24, 1915, Ottoman authorities arrested Armenian intellectuals and community leaders in Constantinople, leading to an estimated 1.5 million people being killed.

Turkey denies the deaths constituted genocide, saying the toll has been inflated and that those killed were victims of civil war and unrest.

Glendale police told NBC4 Investigates exclusively that officers arrested 39-year-old Calese Crowder for recent parole violations on behalf of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDRC). Crowder had been out on parole for a burglary.

The CDRC’s Division of Adult Parole Operations has petitioned to recommend the revocation of Crowder’s parole.

Crowder was held in the LA County jail at no bail. He was expected to have a court appearance later in April.

In July 2025, Crowder was arrested at the Burbank Nordstrom Rack after reports of someone roaming the women’s department and sexually harassing a female customer, according to the Burbank Police Department.

The next month, he was arrested again after allegedly sniffing a woman’s behind inside a Walgreens store in Burbank.

An investigation is underway following an attempted break-in that was reported at about 10 p.m. near Sweetbriar and Swarthmore Drives, according to the Glendale Police Department.

There, two men in ski masks used a firearm to break the rear glass door of a home in an attempt to get inside. For unknown reasons, the men were startled by something and took off in a black vehicle.

It’s unclear if the men were able to gain access into the home before they took off. Police did not say if anyone was home at the time.

Police said they’re investigating the case as an attempted residential burglary.

Chris N’ Eddy’s plans to open a Glendale location in March and a Van Nuys location around May, co-owner Edgar “Eddy” Poghosyan told NBC Los Angeles on Friday.

Poghosyan said the Glendale eatery will be located at the old Burrito Bomba at 1360 E. Colorado Blvd. The third joint will be located at an old Menchie’s on the corner of Sherman Way and Van Nuys Boulevard, where a big sign stands announcing its upcoming debut.

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Chris N’ Eddy’s small business journey

Chris N’ Eddy’s is co-owned by Poghosyan and his childhood friend, Chris Karimian, who’ve known each other since they were about 13 years old.

Poghosyan told NBCLA he came up with the idea for a burger business during the COVID-19 pandemic. When he tapped Karimian to join the venture, Karimian quickly moved from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

The friends started working on their burger recipe, tasting and perfecting burgers daily at home for about nine months until they had it just right.

They launched their pop-up in 2020. About nine months later, in 2021, the duo moved into their permanent Hollywood location at 5539 Sunset Blvd. and quickly made a name for themselves in the Southern California burger biz.

In addition to running their Hollywood restaurant, Poghosyan said Chris N’ Eddy’s pops up at about 100 music festivals every year, from Coachella to Warped Tour.

Angelenos know the brand well, and Poghosyan said spotting Chris N’ Eddy’s at festivals only adds to their festival experience.

Over the past six years, Poghosyan said he and Karimian have learned a ton about running their businesses and adjusting as needed. They’re more than ready to put in the work to make their spring 2026 expansion a success, he told NBCLA.

Poghosyan said he and Karimian come from very humble beginnings, and to now be in a situation where they can employee 80 people and run three restaurants is a huge blessing.

“I’m beyond grateful,” he added.

Poghosyan said many of their customers have been with them since their pop-up days and have formed real connections with them, their team, and their brand.

He said customers’ reactions to their expansion have been heartwarming. It’s not the expansion of a big chain; it’s a small business making its mark in LA.

“We’re two real people who they know,” he said. “We started working from a parking lot, working 18-hour days.”

Poghosyan said he believes customers have connected with Chris N’ Eddy’s because from Day One, the customer has been their top priority.

“From the day we started, to making $800 a night at the pop-up, our quality, service — all of that has only gotten better,” he explained. “At no point have we sacrificed any of that for our own personal gain. The customer is first, always.”

The menu at Chris N’ Eddy’s

The Chris N’ Eddy’s menu is simple: smash burgers with meat, cheese, on a toasted potato bun as the base and crinkle fries (aka “Chris-Cut” fries). Customers can also add toppings to their burgers like the signature Chris N’ Eddy sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, raw or grilled onions, pickles and extra cheese.

Poghosyan said their No. 1 seller is the double smash burger, either “Chris Style,” loaded with veggies, or “Eddy Style,” with grilled onions and signature sauce.

Poghosyan told NBCLA that the Glendale and Van Nuys locations will offer the same beloved menu as their original eatery because, in his words, “We’re not going to fix what’s not broken.”

He said they will bring the same high-quality food and service to the new locations, focusing on the values they’ve held close from the start — solid food, consistency and their overall good vibe.

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Joseph Vladmir Sanchez, 25, was charged with lewd acts with a child and sexual acts with a child under 14 years of age after an 8-year-old victim reported sexual abuse, according to the Glendale Police Department.

After receiving the initial report, detectives were able to identify and locate two additional underage victims, police said.

Sanchez was assigned to Columbus Elementary School and Glenoaks Elementary School in Glendale as a contracted special education assistant from Covelo Group, officials said, adding he was not an employee of the city or the Glendale Unified School District.

Glendale Unified School District sent the following statement to NBC4:

“The safety and security of our GUSD students is our top priority. We have robust policies and procedures in place to support the safety and well-being of our students. We take every reported act of misconduct seriously, working alongside law enforcement to ensure swift and thorough action when allegations are made. The district requires comprehensive background checks, ongoing monitoring, and rigorous screening standards for all employees and agency partners. Our school employees and district administration are cooperating fully with GPD’s criminal investigation to identify and support the students and families who were negatively affected by this individual.”

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Detectives said they are actively seeking additional victims dating back as far as 2023 and urged anyone with information to contact them at 818-548-4840.

The crash was reported at about 9 a.m. when a train was crossing in the area of San Fernando Road and Broadway, where one person was ejected from the car. The person died at the scene.

Another person outside the car was struck by debris and transported to a hospital with minor to moderate injuries. Two people on the train also were injured.

“Preliminary information indicates the motorist was traveling northbound on West San Fernando Road and attempted to make a right turn onto Broadway, crossing the railroad tracks,” Glendale Police said in a statement. “As the vehicle entered the crossing, it was struck by a Metrolink train traveling on the tracks.”

Mayra Jimenez, 46, a beloved teacher from Wilshire Park Elementary School, was dedicated, patient and a model educator, according to those who spoke at a vigil held at the school where she worked. Tears were shed, mourners embraced one another and stories were exchanged from both colleagues and students who were impacted by the late teacher.

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“I didn’t even want to come to school because I wanted to see my teacher, but I already know that she’s in my heart,” said Benjamin Maical, who was a student in Jimenez’s current class.

Students said they loved Jimenez’s ability to make learning fun and accessible to them, while her colleagues and students’ parents admired the genuine passion for teaching she had.

“She was an amazing teacher,” said David Lopez, a parent. “She was the epitome of what a teacher is supposed to be.”

Jimenez was killed earlier this week due to multiple blunt force trauma, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

The woman’s husband, 45-year-old Andrew Jimenez, approached officers at a police station on Wednesday seeking a welfare check on his wife. When officers arrived at the couple’s North Hollywood home early that morning, they found Mayra dead. Andrew, who was a firefighter and paramedic with the Glendale Fire Department, was arrested and charged with murder with an allegation of using an axe as a deadly weapon.

The victim’s loved ones are now left coping with losing her in such a violent way.

“Ms. Jimenez, I never got to say thank you in person. Thank you for standing up for our teachers,” said Tracy Park, a parent.

Andrew Jimenez faces up to 26 years to life in prison if convicted.

Eric Linares says he hasn’t been the same since his bride-to-be was killed last month. He and his fiancé, 43-year-old Erika De La Riva, were struck by a driver as they traveled on a freeway in Glendale after leaving a family dinner. That driver, who rear-ended the couple at high speed, took off as the couple suffered serious injuries.

The impact of the crash was so powerful that the couple’s car slammed into a guardrail and then rolled multiple times on the freeway before coming to a stop. When their car finally stopped rolling, Linares noticed De La Riva was no longer in the car and had somehow been ejected onto the freeway.

“So we’re both wearing seatbelts. After the vehicle came to a complete stop, after the rolling, and I looked to my right, she was no longer there,” Linares said. “The seatbelt was buckled. It was still buckled. However, the seat had reclined backwards, I believe from the impact.”

Linares said he was stuck in the vehicle after the crash, only able to get out after the California Highway Patrol helped him. He added that a truck driver tried to help the couple.

“The truck driver came across all lanes,” Linares said. “I remember the truck driver flashing the vehicle, flashing the incoming cars with his flashlight. That’s when I noticed that my fiancé was on the road, where she was fatally struck by incoming vehicles, as well, too.”

Linares says CHP has dash cam footage from nearby vehicles the night of the crash. The hit-and-run driver was in a white or silver pickup truck.

Anyone with information on the case is encouraged to report it to CHP.

The suspects are accused of passing the fake cash at about a dozen of the franchise’s restaurants, including a Glendale location on Oct. 21. Glendale police determined the crime appeared to fit a pattern in several similar cases.

After working with In-N-Out security team members and viewing security camera video, detectives identified the suspects as 24-year-old Auriona Lewis and 26-year-old Tatiyanna Foster, both of Long Beach.

Lewis was arrested Oct. 30 in Palmdale. She was in possession of counterfeit bills matching the cash passed in the Glendale crime, police said. In a news release Friday, police provided photos of the counterfeit $100 bills and two receipts — one totalling $5.93 for a Flying Dutchman, the other amounting to $2.35 for an order of fries.

Both were paid for with $100 in cash, the receipts indicated.

Detectives also found gift cards and transaction receipts connected to fraudulent activity when they arrested Lewis, according to police.

Foster was arrested Dec. 15.

Lewis was charged with felony counterfeiting and grand theft. Jail records indicate Lewis was released on a court order in November.

Foster’s initial court date is set for Jan. 20, according to jail records.

The hamburger chain’s history in Southern California dates to 1948, when the first stand opened in Baldwin Park.

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Tina Lai, 41, pleaded not guilty to one count of providing and attempting to provide material support to terrorists, and one count of possession of unregistered firearms.

FBI Dec 15, 2025

4 arrested in Los Angeles-area New Year's Eve bombings plot, FBI says

Crime and Courts Dec 15, 2025

New Year's Eve ‘terror plot' to bomb companies foiled

Three other defendants — Audrey Carroll, 30; Zachary Aaron Page, 32; and Dante Gaffield, 24 — also face the same two charges. Carroll and Page also are charged with one count of conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The bombs were supposed to go off at locations in Southern California on New Year’s Eve, but the terror plot was thwarted, federal investigators said. Federal investigators said they were members of a group called the Turtle Island Liberation Front.

“I think there’s no question that they intended to commit violent acts because in their mind that’s the only way they’re going to effectuate the political changes they wanted to achieve,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli. “We prevented something that actually could have been really bad.”

Two weeks ago, Essayli alongside the FBI announced they had disrupted the alleged plot, showing video of a location in the Mojave Desert where they said members of the group tried to make and test bombs.

The suspects were arrested Dec. 12 in the Mojave Desert as they unloaded bomb-making materials from their cars in preparation to construct and test explosives, Essayli said.

Authorities did not name the companies being targeted, but described them as “Amazon-type” logistical centers.

Check your resolutions, your gotta-tries, your want-to-get-it-dones, and you may just find that in 2026 you’d like to A) get out more B) get some movement and C) enjoy the music you love, possibly in a fresh setting.

Moonlight Rollerway, the vibe-filled, fabulously vintage Glendale roller rink can help on all of those resolution-inspired fronts, and without delay.

Seriously, we do mean “without delay”: The wheel-y cool spot will feature a special all-ages themed Skate Night each Saturday evening in January, with the music of KPop Demon Hunters in festive focus Jan. 3.

Jan. 10 is the 10th David Bowie Skate Night, in honor of the icon’s birthday, and Bad Bunny’s energetic and emotive balladry will rule the rink Jan. 17.

Pop Punk is the fashionably fierce flavor of the night Jan. 24, and timeless Motown tunes will round out the marvelous month Jan. 31.

Admission is $23/$25, the $8 skate rental is additional, and spectating? That isn’t permitted at nighttime; you’ll want to read up on everything you need to know before rolling for 5110 San Fernando Road.

Some may say roller skating has had a recent renaissance, thanks to a cavalcade of social media videos and “Stranger Things,” while other proponents of sparkly laces and glitter bumpers will emphatically state that rinks have always reigned, or at least over the last several decades.

Whatever your skate-strong feelings, our roller-loving region has a rollicking rink in Glendale, one that offers awesome theme nights and an assortment of excellent events, often earlier in the day.

Oh yes: And who doesn’t love the Moonlight Rollerway carpet?

We’re bringing the ’80s-neon energy found in the institution’s soft flooring into 2026, with all of the pizzazz and panache the colorful carpet suggests.

At his arraignment earlier this week, 39-year-old Calese Crowder was found to have violated the terms of his parole and sentenced to time in the county jail.

Burbank Sep 5, 2025

Court revokes parole supervision for man dubbed ‘butt-sniffer' in Burbank

California Aug 22, 2025

Man dubbed ‘Butt Sniffer' arrested again in Burbank

Crowder was arrested Nov. 24 after failing to meet an annual sex-offender registration requirement for more than two months, Glendale police told NBC4 Investigates. The Glendale Police Department Assaults Unit arrested Crowder, dubbed by authorities as “butt-sniffer,” at his residence.

Crowder was on parole for a burglary. After the November arrest, the department placed a parole hold on Crowder, which does not allow for bail. Inmates under a parole hold usually remain in custody until they’re released through the parole process or a judge’s order.

In July, Crowder was arrested at the Burbank Nordstrom Rack after reports of someone roaming the women’s department and sexually harassing a female customer, according to the Burbank Police Department.

“Using the store’s surveillance system, officers monitored the suspect as he moved through various departments. While in the women’s section, the suspect was observed following a female customer, crouching near her, and engaging in lewd behavior by inappropriately sniffing her buttocks,” police said in a statement in July.

In August, Crowder was arrested again after allegedly sniffing a woman’s behind inside a Walgreens store in Burbank.

Crowder has a history of similar offenses in Glendale and Burbank dating back to 2021, according to police.

A federal grand jury has indicted Dr. Violetta Mailyan for submitting more than $45 in fake Medicare claims although the Botox injections were not medically necessary or never provided, according to the DOJ.

For example, some of the injections were done on dates when Mailyan was traveling internationally or patients were not in the U.S., prosecutors alleged. In other cases, Mailyan filed claims for someone while the person was serving time in federal prison, the DOJ said. 

Mailyan advertised herself to be a “facial aesthetic doctor” and a board-certified physician who specializes in beauty, according to her social media accounts.

Department of Justice Dec 17, 2025

Puente-13 street gang members charged with drug trafficking, DOJ says

FBI Dec 9, 2025

FBI says woman posed as aircraft company heiress in $30M bank fraud scheme

Mailyan was charged with nine counts of wire fraud and three counts of obstructing a criminal investigation of health care offenses. 

If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each wire fraud count and five years in prison on each obstruction count.

The investigation was at Flower Street and Justin Avenue, where the immediate area was evacuated.

Details about the item in the vehicle were not immediately available.

The vehicle, which had been towed to the area, was connected to an arrest Monday night in Glendale. Details about the arrest were not immediately available.

The owner of Blue Sports Cards told NBC Los Angeles that the burglars broke into the nail shop next door then made their way into the card shop without triggering the security system.

The owner, who identified himself as Ara, said the burglars were in and out of the business within four minutes, only grabbing high-value items.

This is the third card shop burglary in the San Fernando Valley since Dec. 5

Woodland Hills Dec 11, 2025

Thieves tunnel into Woodland Hills shop, steal $30K in trading cards

Crime and Courts Dec 5, 2025

Police look for thieves who stole Pokémon cards from Burbank shop

On Thursday, a group of thieves also broke into two Woodland Hills businesses: They first made their way into Mendocino Farms on Mulholland Drive then broke a hole into the wall to reach Cards & Coffee. The burglars made off with Pokémon cards and sports memorabilia, including Kobe, LeBron and Michael Jordan trading cards.

On Dec. 5, LA Sports Cards in Burbank was broken into as burglars stole over $100,000 worth of trading cards.

Glendale police told NBC Los Angeles that they are working with authorities in Burbank to see whether the two burglaries are related.

Calese Crowder, 38, was arrested Nov. 24 at after failing to meet an annual sex-offender registration requirement for more than two months, Glendale police told NBC4 Investigates. The Glendale Police Department Assaults Unit arrested Crowder, dubbed by authorities as “butt-sniffer,” at his residence.

Burbank Sep 5, 2025

Court revokes parole supervision for man dubbed ‘butt-sniffer' in Burbank

California Aug 22, 2025

Man dubbed ‘Butt Sniffer' arrested again in Burbank

Crowder is on parole for a burglary. The department placed a parole hold on Crowder, which does not allow for bail. Inmates under a parole hold usually remain in custody until they’re released through the parole process or a judge’s order.

“The Glendale Police Department remains committed to public safety by continuously and proactively conducting compliance checks on individuals on probation, parole, and those required to register as sex offenders with searchable conditions,” said Sgt. Mike Pobokhian. “These efforts hold individuals accountable to legal requirements and allow for swift enforcement when violations are identified. Proactive policing efforts such as this are one of the many ways we diligently try to keep Glendale safe.”

Crowder was charged Nov. 26 with failure to update registration annually, a misdemeanor.

The judge dismissed the misdemeanor case following a defense motion, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. LA County Superior Court records show the case was dismissed under PC 1385, which gives the judge broad discretion to dismiss criminal charges.

In July, Crowder was arrested at the Burbank Nordstrom Rack after reports of someone roaming the women’s department and sexually harassing a female customer, according to the Burbank Police Department.

“Using the store’s surveillance system, officers monitored the suspect as he moved through various departments. While in the women’s section, the suspect was observed following a female customer, crouching near her, and engaging in lewd behavior by inappropriately sniffing her buttocks,” police said in a statement in July.

In August, Crowder was arrested again after allegedly sniffing a woman’s behind inside a Walgreens store in Burbank.

Crowder has a history of similar offenses in Glendale and Burbank dating back to 2021, according to police.

Police responded to a call on Sunday morning that someone had written the symbol on their driveway. Officers investigated the area and found multiple additional swastikas drawn on both public and private property.

Police said they were then called out to another vandalism report on Sunday evening, where they found a swastika written on a fire hydrant in the 800 block of E. Palmer Avenue.

Police are still looking for the person who drew the symbols. 

Glendale Sep 6, 2025

2 arrested in connection with Glendale wedding gift box theft

Business Sep 5, 2025

Burglars break into Dinah's Chicken and other Glendale strip mall businesses

The crimes were reported after another recent case in which a swastika was found drawn outside a Beverly Hills elementary school last Monday.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Glendale Police Department at 818 548-3127.

California Highway Patrol officers responded to the transition road from the westbound 134 Freeway to the northbound 5 Freeway at 3:15 a.m. Wednesday, where they found a BMW sedan and a gray sedan blocking several lanes of the transition road, CHP Officer Sergio Garcia told City News Service.

The victim, whose name, age and gender is not immediately known, was pronounced dead at the scene, Garcia said.    

Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Margaret Stewart said the victim who died in the crash was trapped inside the car and fire personnel were unable to rescue them in time.

A Siglert was issued for the closure of all lanes of the transition road from the 134 to the 5 freeways for two hours while the CHP investigated the cause of the collision. Traffic was diverted to San Fernando Road.

The box containing $60,000 in cash and checks, gifts from the newlyweds’ wedding guests, was stolen Aug. 31 at the Renaissance Banquet Hall on Central Avenue. Security camera video showed a man dressed in black walking around inside the venue, appearing to order drinks and entering a restroom before taking off with the box as guests celebrated on a dance floor.

California Sep 2, 2025

Wedding crasher steals gift box with $60,000 at Glendale banquet hall

Business Sep 5, 2025

Burglars break into Dinah's Chicken and other Glendale strip mall businesses

Armean Shirehjini, 41, of Sherman Oaks, and Andranik Avetisyan, 37, of Los Angeles, are each charged with one count of second-degree burglary, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Shirehjini is also charged with one count of possession of a controlled substance while armed with a working firearm. Avetisyan is also charged with a misdemeanor count of child endangerment.

Video from inside the wedding venue showed guests dancing on a nearby dance floor as the man appeared to fold and unfold a servers’ tray stand against a wall. Video showed the man pick up the gift box with both hands from a platform next to the wedding party table at the front of the room and bolt for the exit.

“It’s such a vulnerable moment for us,” said bride Nadeem Farahat. “There’s someone in this hall, watching our guests, watching us, taking advantage of the situation. When he saw his opportunity, he went for it and darted out the back.”

Police said the man took his time, waiting for about an hour before making his move. Security camera video from an alley showed the bald man dressed in black get into the passenger seat of a newer-model Mercedes Benz SUV that left the area.

Detectives used the video to help identify the primary suspect in the theft as Shirehjini, according to a statement released by the police department. Shirehjini, who allegedly was in possession of a handgun, and Avetisyan were arrested Friday at Shirehjini’s home. Avetisyan was identified as the getaway driver the night of the theft, police said.

“Detectives executed search warrants at both suspects’ residences and recovered a large amount of cash and dozens of checks made out to the victims from the wedding,” the department’s statement said. “In addition, several firearms and various narcotics were seized from both residences.”

A man dressed in black was sought in the theft of a wedding gift box that contained $60,000 during a couple’s celebration with friends and family at the Renaissance Banquet Hall.

The wedding celebration theft was reported just before 1 a.m. last Sunday at the banquet hall located at 1236 S. Central Avenue. 

Armean Shirehjini, the primary suspect in the theft, was arrested along with Andranik Avetisyan at his Sherman Oaks home. During the arrest, Shirehjini was found in possession of a handgun, police said.

Video from inside the wedding venue on the day of the incident showed guests dancing nearby as the man appeared to fold and unfold a servers’ tray stand against a wall.

The man then picked up the gift box with both hands from a platform next to the wedding party table at the front of the room and bolted for the exit.

“It’s such a vulnerable moment for us,” said bride Nadeem Farahat. “There’s someone in this hall, watching our guests, watching us, taking advantage of the situation. When he saw his opportunity, he went for it and darted out the back.”

Police said the man took his time, waiting for about an hour before making his move.

Security camera video from an alley showed the bald man dressed in black get into the passenger seat of a newer-model Mercedes Benz SUV that left the area.

According to police, Avetisyan was identified as the getaway driver the night of the theft. 

When detectives searched both suspects’ residences, they recovered a large amount of cash and checks made out to the victims from the wedding.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with additional information related to this investigation is urged to contact the Glendale Police Burglary Detectives at 818-548-3127.

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The wedding celebration theft was reported just before 1 a.m. Sunday at Renaissance Banquet Hall on South Central Avenue. Witnesses told officers that a man grabbed the gift box, which contained cash and checks from wedding guests, and left the building.

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Video from inside the wedding venue showed guests dancing on a nearby dance floor as the man appeared to fold and unfold a servers’ tray stand against a wall. Video showed the man pick up the gift box with both hands from a platform next to the wedding party table at the front of the room and bolt for the exit.

“It’s such a vulnerable moment for us,” said bride Nadeem Farahat. “There’s someone in this hall, watching our guests, watching us, taking advantage of the situation. When he saw his opportunity, he went for it and darted out the back.”

Police said the man took his time, waiting for about an hour before making his move.

Video showed the same man entering and exiting a restroom, appearing to order drinks at a bar and looking at his phone in a lobby area.

Security camera video from an alley showed the bald man dressed in black get into the passenger seat of a newer-model Mercedes Benz SUV that left the area.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

A pair of men impersonated actual customers who purchased laptops at Apple stores and other businesses by using fraudulent IDs and bogus QR codes, according to the Glendale Police Department.

Paul Giles said he was a victim of one of these scams. He wasn’t aware until he tried to pick up his purchase at the Americana at Brand.

“From the time I got the initial email from Apple saying it’s ready to pick up and the time that they actually went to the store to pick it up,” Giles said.

The victim said the theft happened in a matter of about four hours.

“It was someone who impersonated me. Showed the ID, showed the QR code that was through the email system and with that, ‘Paul Giles’ got the laptop,” Giles said.

Giles said a detective later informed him that thieves buy information and are told where to go to pick up goods.

“It’s really easy to get this information,” said Jim Stickley, a cybersecurity expert. “You can jump on the dark web. There’s sites that are literally dedicated to selling just these types of information.”

Stickley added that oftentimes, victims are unaware that their emails have been compromised.

“Everything’s in the cloud now, so they’ll access your email,” he said. “So once they gain access, they’ll just put a rule in that basically forwards all of your emails. So now you get a copy and they get a copy and you’d have no idea.”

Police did not release the names of the men who were arrested in connection with the scheme. The department said they’re searching for a third individual, but did not provide a detailed description of that person.

Officers responded to reports of an armed robbery at the 800 block of West Glenoaks at around 1 a.m. 

According to the victim, four men dressed in black and armed with a firearm took hundreds of dollars in store merchandise. 

Officers later spotted a car, matching the description of the car used in the robbery, speeding and running red lights down Monterey Road and Geneva Street, 

When police attempted to conduct a traffic stop, the driver continued and a short pursuit ensued. 

The suspected robbers’ car then crashed with an unoccupied car near Jackson Street and Lexington Drive where one of them fled on foot, but was quickly caught.

Another suspected robber was ejected from the car during the crash.  

All four of the suspected robbers sustained significant injuries from the crash and were transported to Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, police said.

During their investigation, Glendale police confirmed that the suspected robbers’ vehicle had been reported stolen and a firearm was recovered at the scene.

The identities and ages of the suspects have not been released. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Glendale Police Department at 818-937-8888.

The May 27 burglary at Bidrussian Jewelry Store, which has operated in Glendale for more than 40 years, was reported at about 1 a.m. in the 1100 block of South Glendale Avenue, police said. The burglars entered through the roof, then used blowtorches to tear open four safes and clean out the contents.

Simi Valley May 27, 2025

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News May 17, 2025

Wealthy shoppers are splashing the cash on jewelry — so long as it's the right brand

Working with other law enforcement agencies, Glendale police identified several people suspected in the burglary and launched a surveillance operation. The department received information that suggested the same group was planning a heist Sunday at Rodeo Jewelers in the San Gabriel Valley community of La Verne.

“As the suspects attempted to gain entry through the roof, law enforcement officers coordinated to take the group into custody,” Glendale police said in a statement. “The suspects also used signal jammers and cut wires to the location during the incident.”

The suspects were identified as foreign nationals who might be involved in similar crimes in the United States and other countries, police said Tuesday in a news release announcing the arrests.

The jewelry business in Glendale was founded by Manail Bidrussian’s parents 45 years ago and passed down through generations of family members. He called the crime highly organized, calculated and professional. The thieves cut through the roof and used torch guns to melt through reinforced safes, taking millions of dollars worth of the store’s inventory, the family said.

Ammunition was kept in one of the safes, Bidrussian said. He estimated the crime took hours, considering the time needed to cut through multiple safes.

Bidrussian said his alarm did not go off during the break-in.

The thieves left behind a small gold necklace that features a child kneeling in prayer.

The crime followed another jewelry store heist Sunday at a business in Simi Valley, about 50 miles northwest of Glendale in Ventura County. A burglar was seen on security camera video crawling on the floor in Dr. Conkey’s Candy & Coffee before reaching the security camera and spraying it to block the view inside the candy store.

After clearing out the safe, the burglar cut a hole in the wall to access 5 Star Jewelry. The owner estimated the loss at more than $2 million.

The decision comes after scrutiny from community members and activists who said the collaboration went against sanctuary city laws.

“This local decision reflects our core values: public safety, transparency, and community trust. The Glendale Police Department does not enforce immigration laws and remains fully compliant with SB 54,” wrote the city.

Since January, 82 people were detained by ICE and housed in the Glendale City Jail. A city spokesperson told NBC4 those detainees spent between six to 12 hours in the jail facility, but they are not fingerprinted or booked.

The city insisted that the jail only provided a bed, food, water, and medical care to the individuals. They added that they do not house any minors.

In 2017, Senate Bill 54 was passed, making California the first sanctuary state in the nation. Under the bill, state and local law enforcement are prohibited from allowing federal immigration authorities to use space in their facility.

Glendale says it’s had a contract with ICE since 2007.

Andres Kwon, with the American Civil Liberties Union, calls the city’s agreement with ICE a violation of California law.

“Ultimately and effectively, this Glendale contract with ICE is helping the Trump administration carry out its mass deportation agenda that is racist and has abused countless peoples, constitutional, civil and human rights,” said Andres Kwon. “It’s shocking Glendale has this contract and it should end immediately.”

At a city council meeting, an immigration attorney claimed her client was not provided food at the facility and urged the council to reconsider the contract.

Councilmember Elen Asatryan insisted the city is in full compliance with SB 54, according to Glendale’s police chief.

Since January, 82 people have been detained by ICE and housed in the Glendale City Jail. A city spokesperson told NBC4 those detainees spend between six to 12 hours in the jail facility, but they are not fingerprinted or booked.

The city insists the jail simply provides a bed, food, water, and medical care to the individuals. They add that they do not house any minors and that the city has had a contract with ICE since 2007.

In 2017, Senate Bill 54 was passed, making California the first sanctuary state in the nation. Under the bill, state and local law enforcement are prohibited from allowing federal immigration authorities to use space in their facility.

Andres Kwon, with the American Civil Liberties Union, calls the city’s agreement with ICE a violation of California law.

Ultimately and effectively, this Glendale contract with ICE is helping the Trump administration carry out its mass deportation agenda that is racist and has abused countless peoples, constitutional, civil and human rights,” said Andres Kwon. “It’s shocking Glendale has this contract and it should end immediately.”

At a city council meeting this week, an immigration attorney claimed her client was not provided food at the facility and urged the council to reconsider the contract.

Councilmember Elen Asatryan insisted the city is in full compliance with SB 54, according to Glendale’s police chief.

The burglary at Bidrussian Jewelry Store, which has operated in Glendale for more than 40 years, was reported at about 1 a.m. in the 1100 block of South Glendale Avenue, police said. The burglars entered through the roof, then used blowtorches to tear open four safes and clean out the contents.

Simi Valley May 27, 2025

‘Tremendous heartbreak.' Simi Valley community reels after jewelry shop, candy shop break-in

News May 17, 2025

Wealthy shoppers are splashing the cash on jewelry — so long as it's the right brand

No arrests were reported early Thursday afternoon.

“Every day that is going by is hitting me more and more,” owner Manail Bidrussian said. “It’s a family legacy that we have not only our merchandise… we had stuff that my mom had saved in there.”

The jewelry business was founded by Manail Bidrussian’s parents 45 years ago and passed down through generations of family members. Bidrussian, who vowed to carry on the family business and his father’s dream, arrived Tuesday morning to open the strip mall store and found the lights on and the back office door closed.

Owners called the crime highly organized, calculated and professional. The thieves cut through the roof and used torch guns to melt through reinforced safes, taking millions of dollars worth of the store’s inventory, the family said.

Ammunition was kept in one of the safes, Bidrussian said. He estimated the crime took hours, considering the time needed to cut through multiple safes.

Bidrussian said his alarm did not go off during the break-in.

The thieves left behind a small gold necklace that features a child kneeling in prayer.

The crime follows another jewelry store heist Sunday at a business in Simi Valley, about 50 miles northwest of Glendale in Ventura County. A burglar was seen on security camera video crawling on the floor in Dr. Conkey’s Candy & Coffee before reaching the security camera and spraying it to block the view inside the candy store.

After clearing out the safe, the burglar cut a hole in the wall to access 5 Star Jewelry. The owner estimated the loss at more than $2 million.

“Let’s Go Glendale” debuts: A fresh in-the-street spectacular that doesn’t involve motorized traffic but does embrace sauntering, skating, cycling, and general pedestrian joy? We’re so there, and the “there” in this case is a sizable stretch of Glendale Avenue. Feel the summer’s-coming fun from Lexington Drive to Chevy Chase Drive May 31 from 10 a.m. to 4 o’clock, no ticket or admission required.

Free ‘Summer Arts Festival’ in Downtown Burbank: Even if you’re grad-less this season and you’ve already lined up Dad’s gift — Father’s Day is just over two weeks away, by the by — making your way to this mega indie craft fair has a way of yielding delights. Jewelry, tees, homewares, dog items, cat toys, and all sorts of baby-sweet goodies line the colorful booths (and there are over 170 vendors in all). Shop, stroll, and savor some sunshine May 31 and June 1.

Smorgasburg LA celebrates “Hollywood Bowl Day”: The big bandshell is revving up for a mondo music (and theater and film and everything) summer, but you can start the HB-style party early across town at ROW DTLA June 1. Smorgasburg LA will pay yummy homage to some of the foodstuffs set to star at the Tinseltown venue, with themed dishes and more. Entry is free but leave the pups at home. And remember: This is in the Arts District, not Hollywood.

“Monsterpalooza” roars in Pasadena: We haven’t yet dug through our Halloween decorations, but we are thinking in that direction since fall isn’t all that faraway. A bevy of movie make-up pros, major horror stars, and fans of frights will gather in the Crown City from May 30-June 1 for movie-level make-up demos and panels spotlighting scary classics. Oodles of eye-catching vendors will be there, too, to up the autumn-style atmosphere.

VenHub, an artificial intelligence and robotic technology company, just opened their first fully autonomous smart stores in Glendale and North Hollywood. 

It may look like a big vending machine, but it operates differently. 

Through the VenHub app, customers can browse, select and purchase up to 400 convenience store items without needing staff assistance. 

This also reduces building and operating costs, which adds a 31% increase in savings, according to VenHub. 

“We’re not having to worry about workers’ comp, shrinkage, crime, employees, people not showing up,” said Shahan Ohanessian, CEO of Venmore. “Plus, the robots don’t take time off and they’re working seven days a week and they don’t really celebrate holidays.” 

The smart store comes with six smart refrigerated cabinets, four dry refrigerated cabinets and four delivery windows. It can also serve multiple customers at once. 

The windows are also bulletproof to deter crime. 

“Consumers are going to save, the store owner is going to be more profitable, the store owner is not going to be confronting crime because there’s no cash inside,” Ohanessian said.

Sgt. Edvin F. Franco, of Glendale, was identified as one of the soldiers found dead in the M88 Hercules vehicle. The body of a fourth soldier was recovered after a weeklong search in a peat bog at the Gen. Silvestras Žukauskas training ground in the town of Pabradė.

Military Apr 1, 2025

Fourth missing US soldier found dead in Lithuania

Military Mar 31, 2025

3 US soldiers found dead in Lithuania, 1 still missing after vehicle swallowed by peat bog

The soldiers, who were part of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, were on a tactical training exercise when they were reported missing a week ago, the Army said.

Franco was also an M1 Abrams tank system maintainer who had been in the Army for more than six years. He deployed to Korea in 2020 and Germany in 2022.

Franco’s wife, Georgia Franco, told 11Alive in Atlanta that he had been stationed at Fort Stewart in Hinesville, Georgia, where he was a tank mechanic. The two met in 2022 and welcomed their first child in October, she said.

“He was, he’s such a good dad,” Georgia said. “He loved him. I mean, I couldn’t have handpicked somebody else to be a father. From the moment, we had him, he was in love.”

Three months after the birth of their child, Franco received word he was being deployed to Lithuania, his wife said.

The man’s mother, Lourdes Arriaga, said she and his father were proud of their son. She also said sharing the tragic news with other relatives was difficult.

“He was doing his job,” he said. “He loved his job, but what can I say to a little boy? Your brother is not coming back. He was his model.”

Capt. Madyson K. Wellens, a commander in his squadron, told The Associated Press that Franco’s “infectious smile and genuine joy in being with his team were matched only by the tenacity and drive. He never asked more of his soldiers than he was willing to give himself — a true testament to his character.”

Sgt. Jose Duenez, Jr., 25, of Joliet, Illinois and Pfc. Dante D. Taitano, 21, of Dededo, Guam, also were identified Tuesday. On Wednesday, the fourth soldier was identified as Staff Sgt. Troy S. Knutson-Collins, 28, from Battle Creek, Michigan.

Knutson-Collins Duenez Jr, and Franco were posthumously promoted to staff sergeant.

“This past week has been devastating. Today our hearts bear the weight of an unbearable pain with the loss of our final Dogface Soldier,” Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, 3rd Infantry Division commander, said in a statement Tuesday. “Though we have received some closure, the world is darker without them.”

The search in thick forests and swamp land included hundreds of Lithuanian and U.S. soldiers and rescue team members. The 63-ton armored vehicle was found March 26 submerged in about 15 feet of water.

It took days to pull the heavy vehicle from the bog using steel cables. Excavators, sluice and slurry pumps and other heavy construction equipment was used in the search.

Gen. Christopher Donahue, commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, expressed gratitude to the U.S. allies who sent troops and equipment to help in the search and recovery.

“I can’t say enough about the support our Lithuanian Allies have provided us. We have leaned on them, and they, alongside our Polish and Estonian Allies — and our own Sailors, Airmen and experts from the Corps of Engineers — have enabled us to find and bring home our Soldiers,” Donahue said in the statement. “This is a tragic event, but it reinforces what it means to have Allies and friends.”

“What I want him to be remembered, he didn’t just do for nothing, he was doing his job,” his mother said.

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The last day of May is not, technically, officially, or even loosely the final day of springtime, but… it sort of is, in a whimsical way?

This is because plenty of people think of the idea of summer, if not actual summer, as beginning June 1, with July and August bringing up the summer-y rear (we’ve moved onto apple-picking and overly warm sweaters by mid-September, which, yes, is still actual summer).

So how can we best embrace the spirit of springtime as it comes to its “sort of” end at the end of May?

Metro and Community Arts Resources (CARS), along with the City of Glendale, has an effervescent idea that’s full of spring zing: Holding an airy and cheerful open streets experience on S. Glendale Avenue.

As with other no-cars, just-the-people parties, the May 31 happening — it’s called Let’s Go Glendale — will be free, and tickets are not required.

The “… community is invited to explore the area on foot, bike, scooter, wheelchair, or any other way that moves you,” shares the team behind the new event.

Of course, stopping for a quick lunch or to soak in the sounds — live music will serve as a soundtrack to the event — is a tempting suggestion.

Activities, too, will pop up in the city’s southerly section, giving people a “meaningful, vehicle-free route” to explore.

Further details about the closure of part of S. Glendale Avenue and surrounding streets will be available in April.

Dining options, entertainment, and other diversions will also become clearer as May 31 grows near.

It is fitting that this new event was announced just ahead of spring — the season starts March 20 in 2025 — for May 31 is, without a doubt, an extremely spring-like day in character, tone, and feel.

Let’s wish for a sunny day, too, or at least one that is low on the May Gray vibe. For more information, visit the Let’s Go Glendale site.

Cheyla Ramirez, Ruben Lepiz Campos and Rogelio Soriano are suspected of committing 10 thefts including five grand thefts between January and February 2025, police said Friday. 

Stores targeted included Nordstrom Rack, TJ Maxx and Marshalls, detectives said. The stolen goods were allegedly resold.   

TJ Maxx investigators worked with the Glendale Police Department to arrest Ramirez and Campos after they were caught shoplifting. 

During the investigation, police found a tool to beat security sensors, notes describing resales and $2,000 worth of stolen products.

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Some of the typical items you’ll find inside a gas station?

You might come across fold-out maps, packs of gum, a refrigerated unit packed with soda pop, and perhaps an aisle of candy bars, too.

What you likely will not see are strange and colorful shapes that fill the interior of the station, “biomorphic inflatables magnetically connected to form amoeba-like creatures.”

Of course, you will encounter this wonderful and whimsical sight if you stop by the 1936 Streamline Moderne gas station found at the Adams Square Mini Park in Glendale over a few fantastical spring weeks.

For artist Mandy Palasik’s installation is fantastical, living up to its name. The offbeat artwork, dubbed “Soft Surrealism,” brims with PVC pieces — they’re lightweight — and “colorful beams of light” by night, illumination that prompts the shapes “… to create an alluring form that changes with each perspective.”

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The former gas station is a focal point for the Glendale Arts and Culture Commission, which has partnered with a number of civic-minded organizations to present the effervescent attraction.

If you’re seeking “curiosity, excitement, wonder, and imagination” this spring — all tenets that the LA-based Mandy Palasik Studio folds into the work it creates — swing by 1020 E. Palmer Avenue for a playful pop-up artwork, a piece that exuberantly exists beyond a traditional museum or gallery space.

Police responded to the report of a shooting around 3:03 p.m. at the 500 block of West Colorado Street. Upon arrival, officers with Glendale police found a man suffering from a gunshot wound.

The victim was transported to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. The identity of the victim was not released, pending notification of next of kin.

The motive for the shooting is unclear, but authorities believe it was an isolated event. Police have not identified the shooting suspect.

Anyone with information regarding the shooting is encouraged to contact the Glendale Police Department at 818-548-4911.