Man who evaded police faces felony charges

June 19, 2012

The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office on Tuesday filed four felony charges against the man who led Burbank police and California Highway Patrol officers on a one-hour pursuit on multiple freeways through the San Fernando Valley Friday night.

Vardan Aslanyan, 29, was charged with felony evading, felony drunk driving, felony hit-and-run, possession of heroine and driving with a suspended license, said Burbank Police Sgt. Darin Ryburn.

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For the Record: An earlier version of this post incorrectly stated that Aslanyan faced three felony charges. He faces four.

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About an hour after the pursuit began, Aslanyan was arrested by Burbank police in Hollywood, where he crashed into a vehicle, causing it to flip onto its roof and after side-swiping another, Ryburn said.

Aslanyan was allegedly driving 70 to 80 MPH in a black Mercedes E35 through the city of Burbank Friday, around 7:40 p.m., running stop signs and red lights, before he hopped onto the Golden State (5) Freeway, Ryburn said.

Up to four Burbank patrol cars and an air ship pursued Aslanyan on the freeway until the California Highway Patrol took over at Topanga Canyon Boulevard and SR-118 west, he said.

At one point, Aslanyan, a Hollywood resident, allegedly exited and got onto the 118 east, back to the I-5 and then SR-170, eventually crashing into the two vehicles at Franklin and Vine in Hollywood, Ryburn said.

Four CHP patrol cars were involved and Ryburn said Aslanyan was at times allegedly driving in excess of 100 MPH on the freeway.

His bail is set at $105,000, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Fox has a video of the Friday night chase.

-- Maria Hsin, Times Community News

Twitter: @mariahsin

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