Police Arrest Suspect in 20 Robberies After Chase

A Sun Valley man suspected of robbing as many as 20 local minimarkets and liquor stores at gunpoint during the past two weeks was arrested Wednesday after a high-speed chase that left one Los Angeles Police Department officer slightly injured.

Walter Deleon Oatis Jr., 21, led Los Angeles and Burbank police on a 16-minute pursuit at speeds of up to 70 m.p.h. through Sun Valley, North Hollywood, San Fernando and Pacoima.

The chase began when Burbank police attempted to arrest Oatis at his home as a suspect in the 9 a.m. robbery of the Quick One food store at 2021 N. Hollywood Way in Burbank.

A robbery witness had identified a man matching Oatis’ description as being the one who had walked into the store brandishing a shotgun and demanding the store’s cash, police said.

The witness told police that he later saw the man get into his car and was able to get the license number. Matching the number to Oatis’ address, Burbank police were waiting for him when he returned home.

When they tried to take him into custody, Oatis fled and Los Angeles police joined the chase.

Oatis finally surrendered peacefully after his car collided with two police cars at the intersection of Paxton Street and Van Nuys Boulevard in Pacoima. One vehicle was an LAPD car driven by Foothill Division Officer Ernest Munoz and an unmarked car belonging to Burbank police.

Munoz was treated for bruises to one arm at nearby Holy Cross Medical Center and released.

Police said they think that another suspect may also have been involved in the recent spate of armed robberies in the San Fernando Valley area.