Kmart

A preliminary hearing for the homeless man accused of shooting two police officers outside a busy Kmart is scheduled for March 1 in Burbank. Police say Jamie Willard managed to grab an officer's gun and begin firing despite being handcuffed behind his back outside the Kmart on July 2. Willard, 30, pleaded not guilty in July to two counts of attempted murder and other charges. His bail has risen to more than $3 million. He remains in custody. Police issue seat alert Burbank police say a wave of auto burglaries has struck the city, with thieves grabbing GPS systems and third-row bench seats from SUVs manufactured by General Motors between 2003 and 2007.

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge has ruled that the case against a man accused of shooting two Burbank police officers can proceed to trial. The ruling came after two days of testimony this week during the preliminary trial for James Willard, who faces two counts of attempted murder and other charges in the July 2010 incident in front of a Kmart in Burbank. Willard allegedly shot two Burbank police officers after he was able to wrangle one of the guns while under arrest at Kmart for alleged shoplifting.

The man accused of using a Burbank officer's gun against him and his partner during a scuffle at a Kmart last year was double-handcuffed because of his size and to allow for greater range of motion, according to testimony Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Jamie Willard - the man accused of shooting at two Burbank police officers after he was able to wrangle one of the guns while under arrest at Kmart for an alleged shoplifting - required two connected handcuffs because his 6-foot-tall, 220-pound frame was too large for a single cuff, one of the officers testified during the preliminary hearing.

The two Burbank police officers shot while responding to a shoplifting call were wounded after the suspect took one of the officers’ service weapons, law enforcement sources said. Details of the shooting were still under investigation Friday evening, but sources said the man had been detained by Kmart security when officers arrived outside the store on San Fernando Boulevard. Though handcuffed, the man reportedly took one of the officers’ guns while being transferred into their custody and a struggle ensured, the sources said.

DOWNTOWN — A homeless man accused of shooting two police officers outside a busy Kmart is due to be arraigned today on attempted murder charges. Despite being handcuffed behind his back, police say Jamie Willard managed to reach around, grab an officer's gun and begin firing. Willard, 30, had been detained by security guards outside the San Fernando Boulevard store on Friday afternoon because they suspected he had stolen some DVDs, but a scuffle broke out when police arrived to take him into custody, Sgt. Robert Quesada said.

The man accused of stealing from a Kmart in Burbank and then shooting and wounding two police officers while handcuffed and being taken to a patrol car pleaded not guilty to attempted murder charges this week. Jamie Warren Willard, 30, of Gresham, Ore., pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court and is scheduled to appear next month for a pre-trial hearing. On Aug. 23, a Superior Court judge ruled there was sufficient evidence to proceed with a trial after two days of testimony in a preliminary hearing that revealed how events allegedly unfolded on July 2, 2010, when prosecutors say Willard shot and wounded two police officers in an effort to escape custody.

Police were investigating the theft of 10 gold rings from a jewelry case at Kmart. The rings were stolen Saturday shortly after 4 p.m., when the clerk in the jewelry section at the Kmart at 1000 N. San Fernando Blvd. left for a break, Burbank Police Sgt. Bill Taylor said. Police said a man was seen walking around the jewelry case and then smashed it. He then fled. The female clerk came back to the jewelry department and as she was helping a customer noticed that the glass case was smashed and 10 gold rings worth $100 each were stolen, Taylor said.

Kmart gave back to the community through the Police and Fire departments at its first safety fair. The Saturday event, with raffles and local groups handing out safety information on everything from local senior citizen programs to burn prevention, raised $500 for each department. "They play a big part in everything that goes on in the city," coordinator Chris Hudson said of the departments. "Whether it's dealing with criminal activity or going to schools helping to prevent something."

I see Walmart fitting in very well with this community. It will also bring more people into the city. We used to travel outside of Burbank to shop at Walmart. With the addition of Walmart, it will bring better prices to the area and other stores. Sure, it will force pressure on some of the other stores, but nothing stays the same forever. When Target came to Burbank, I stopped shopping at Kmart. Why was there not the same stink raised? The only ones I see complaining are the unions and high-priced labor.

Car causes bicyclist to crash A bicyclist was traveling westbound Oct. 19 on Kling Street when a yellow Volkswagen Bug made an illegal right turn in front of the woman. While trying to avoid a collision with the vehicle, the bicyclist lost her balance and fell to the ground, police reported. Officers were unable to find the driver of the car after it turned into a nearby apartment complex. The bicyclist suffered cuts and bruises, and the case is under investigation.

I'm tired of hearing all the bad things about Walmart. It all boils down to the union, not to traffic issues. I heard Best Buy is closing some stores. I heard Kmart is closing stores, and some grocery stores are closing too. What retail store will still be around? I'm a taxpayer and I will spend my money where I want to. The union does not pay my bills or Medi-Cal. I'm for Walmart to come into Burbank. Albert Esquivel Burbank

Re: “ Crime motivates Walmart opposition ,” Mailbag, Sept. 26. The letter writer says, “The type of people the store (Walmart) attracts and the crime would be bad for the rest of the businesses in that area,” meaning the Empire Center. She goes on to say we have a Costco, Target and a Kmart nearby. Well, I was in line in the Kmart store on Wednesday with three women together in line ahead of me. They bought $96 worth of merchandise, argued with the cashier over the total, and they tried to pay for it with a bogus credit card.

I see Walmart fitting in very well with this community. It will also bring more people into the city. We used to travel outside of Burbank to shop at Walmart. With the addition of Walmart, it will bring better prices to the area and other stores. Sure, it will force pressure on some of the other stores, but nothing stays the same forever. When Target came to Burbank, I stopped shopping at Kmart. Why was there not the same stink raised? The only ones I see complaining are the unions and high-priced labor.

The man accused of stealing from a Kmart in Burbank and then shooting and wounding two police officers while handcuffed and being taken to a patrol car pleaded not guilty to attempted murder charges this week. Jamie Warren Willard, 30, of Gresham, Ore., pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court and is scheduled to appear next month for a pre-trial hearing. On Aug. 23, a Superior Court judge ruled there was sufficient evidence to proceed with a trial after two days of testimony in a preliminary hearing that revealed how events allegedly unfolded on July 2, 2010, when prosecutors say Willard shot and wounded two police officers in an effort to escape custody.

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge has ruled that the case against a man accused of shooting two Burbank police officers can proceed to trial. The ruling came after two days of testimony this week during the preliminary trial for James Willard, who faces two counts of attempted murder and other charges in the July 2010 incident in front of a Kmart in Burbank. Willard allegedly shot two Burbank police officers after he was able to wrangle one of the guns while under arrest at Kmart for alleged shoplifting.

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge has ruled that the case against a man accused of shooting two Burbank police officers can proceed to trial. The ruling came after two days of testimony this week during the preliminary trial for James Willard, who faces two counts of attempted murder and other charges in the July 2010 incident in front of a Kmart in Burbank. Willard allegedly shot two Burbank police officers after he was able to wrangle one of the guns while under arrest at Kmart for alleged shoplifting.

The man accused of using a Burbank officer's gun against him and his partner during a scuffle at a Kmart last year was double-handcuffed because of his size and to allow for greater range of motion, according to testimony Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Jamie Willard - the man accused of shooting at two Burbank police officers after he was able to wrangle one of the guns while under arrest at Kmart for an alleged shoplifting - required two connected handcuffs because his 6-foot-tall, 220-pound frame was too large for a single cuff, one of the officers testified during the preliminary hearing.

A preliminary hearing for the homeless man accused of shooting two police officers outside a busy Kmart is scheduled for March 1 in Burbank. Police say Jamie Willard managed to grab an officer's gun and begin firing despite being handcuffed behind his back outside the Kmart on July 2. Willard, 30, pleaded not guilty in July to two counts of attempted murder and other charges. His bail has risen to more than $3 million. He remains in custody. Police issue seat alert Burbank police say a wave of auto burglaries has struck the city, with thieves grabbing GPS systems and third-row bench seats from SUVs manufactured by General Motors between 2003 and 2007.

Car causes bicyclist to crash A bicyclist was traveling westbound Oct. 19 on Kling Street when a yellow Volkswagen Bug made an illegal right turn in front of the woman. While trying to avoid a collision with the vehicle, the bicyclist lost her balance and fell to the ground, police reported. Officers were unable to find the driver of the car after it turned into a nearby apartment complex. The bicyclist suffered cuts and bruises, and the case is under investigation.

A preliminary hearing for the homeless man accused of shooting two police officers outside a busy Kmart was postponed in Los Angeles County Superior Court this week. The hearing was rescheduled for Oct. 13 in Burbank. Police say Willard managed to grab an officer's gun and begin firing despite being handcuffed behind his back outside the Kmart on July 2. Willard, 30, pleaded not guilty in July to two counts of attempted murder and other charges. He has remained in custody in lieu of $1-million bail.