Media Contact:  Sgt. Hauptmann
Office: 818-937-8888
Cell: 818-299-1565
Email: GPDPIO@Glendaleca.gov

Reckless Drivers and Street Racers Arrested - Vehicles Impounded

On July 19, 2020, around 8:12 p.m., a patrol officer was parked in the area of Pacific Ave and San Fernando Rd when their attention was drawn to two vehicles stopped next to each other at the red light.  When the light turned green, the officer could hear one male say, “Let’s go.”  Both vehicles accelerated at a high rate of speed side by side as they jockeyed each other to take the lead, quickly pulling away from the usual flow of traffic with their engines revving loudly.  The officer caught up to the vehicles at a red light and pulled both of them over, contacting the drivers, identified as 26-year-old Mario Solis of Sylmar (who was on probation for reckless driving) and 24-year-old Arootin Mahmudi of Glendale, regarding the violations.  Both males were subsequently arrested for participating in an illegal speed contest and their cars were impounded. 

On July 20, 2020, just after 8:00 p.m., a patrol officer was stopped at a red light at the intersection of Western Ave and Glenoaks Blvd when they observed a driver make a U-turn in the intersection, rev their engine and rapidly accelerate causing their vehicle to lose traction and make a screeching sound.  Once the vehicle regained traction, the driver accelerated to approximately 50 MPH eastbound onto Glenoaks Blvd.  The officer stopped the vehicle and contacted the driver, identified as 18-year-old Zhan Mnatsakanyan of Glendale, asking him if he was showing off to which Mnatsakanyan replied, “Yeah.”  Mnatsakanyan was subsequently arrested for reckless driving and his vehicle was impounded.

On July 21, 2020, at around 11:30 p.m., a patrol officer was working traffic enforcement in the area of Glenoaks Blvd and Alma St when they observed a vehicle accelerating on Glenoaks Blvd at a high rate of speed (over 70 MPH in a 40 MPH zone).  The officer stopped the vehicle and contacted the driver, identified as 21-year-old Artyom Davtyan of North Hollywood, regarding the violation.  Davtyan was subsequently arrested for reckless driving and his vehicle was impounded.

The Glendale Police Department has and will continue to conduct speed enforcement on our city streets.  Please remember to adhere to the posted speed limits and to all vehicle laws.

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