Police Chase Ends in Death of Uninvolved 3rd Driver

A high-speed police chase of a motorcyclist caught drag racing in Sun Valley early Sunday resulted in an accident that killed a pizza parlor operator, who was not being chased, and slightly injured a police officer, Los Angeles police said.

David Malekian, 54, was pronounced dead at the scene of the 12:10 a.m. collision between his pickup and the pursuing police car at Tujunga Avenue and Strathern Street, Sgt. Ron Barnes said.

Police will seek a murder charge against the motorcyclist, Robert Wade Still, 18, of North Hollywood, Barnes said.

The chase, which reached speeds of up to 70 m.p.h., began when Officer Lee Glozer spotted Still and his brother, Earl William Still, 20, drag racing near Glenoaks Boulevard and Peoria Street, police said.

Squad Car, Pickup Collide

Glozer pursued Robert Wade Still south on Tujunga Avenue and, shortly afterward, the squad car collided with Malekian’s pickup, Officer Mark Warschaw said. Glozer had been riding alone.

Investigators said that they had not determined whether the lights were working properly at the time of the crash or whether either Glozer or Malekian had run a red light.

Robert Wade Still was arrested at his home in the 7100 block of Coldwater Canyon Avenue, where he lives with his brother, Warschaw said. The brother, who sped off in another direction when spotted by Glozer, was arrested on suspicion of evading police after a chase that ended in Pasadena.

As in all accidents arising from a police pursuit, investigators will determine whether any official procedures for pursuits were violated, Barnes said.

The policies generally call for chases to be ended if the suspect is not fleeing from a violent felony, if the officer has noted the suspect’s license plate and if the police helicopter has the suspect in sight, Cmdr. William Booth said.

Glozer had noted a plate number on Robert Wade Still’s motorcycle, but the police helicopter did not arrive in time to help his pursuit, Warschaw said.

Held Without Bond

Still was being held without bond in Van Nuys Jail pending an arraignment this week in Van Nuys Municipal Court, police said.

Malekian had left his business to locate one of his delivery drivers, who had been about a half hour late in returning to the Pizza Man parlor at 12061 Strathern St., said his brother and business partner, Herand.

“When the delivery man is late or something, we worry about them,” said Herand Malekian, 47. The delivery man was merely having trouble finding an apartment, he said.

The Malekians lived with their mother in Sun Valley, Herand Malekian said. He said Sunday he was trying to find a way to break the news to his mother. “She has a bad heart,” he said.