BURBANK : Passenger Held in Robbery of Driver

An Arleta man who said he was just trying to be a good Samaritan, giving a ride to an apparently ill woman pedestrian, was surprised when his passenger first propositioned him and then robbed him at knifepoint Thursday, the man told Burbank police.

He was even more surprised when the passenger turned out to be a man in a wig, officers said.

Juan Manuel Reyes had just finished a shift at his Vernon workplace and was on his way home after midnight when he spotted what looked like a woman staggering at the intersection of Soto Street and Olympic Boulevard, Sgt. Bob Brode said.

Reyes, 27, stopped and offered the “woman” a ride home to Hollywood, he said.

After Reyes got on the Golden State Freeway heading north, his passenger began to rub Reyes’ legs and chest and asked if he wanted sex, police said. When Reyes refused, the passenger allegedly removed Reyes’ watch.

Reyes pulled off the Ventura Freeway and stopped at Buena Vista Street. The passenger produced a knife, demanded Reyes’ wedding ring, gold bracelet, money and car keys, and ran from the vehicle, Brode said.

Reyes gave chase and pinned the alleged robber to the ground. Passing police officers found them struggling and the suspected robber, who was holding a red wig and purse, dropped a knife, Brode said.

When officers handcuffed and patted down the suspected robber, they became suspicious and took the suspect--Joaquin De La Pena, 24--to Thompson Memorial Medical Center, where doctors said the alleged robber was a man who had undergone a partial sex change.

De La Pena was arrested on suspicion on robbery and the stolen items were recovered, police said.