Uber driver is arrested after guns and drugs are found in Glendale home, police say

A 23-year-old Uber driver was arrested Tuesday after police reportedly found five guns, hundreds of prescription pills and nearly $20,000 in cash at his Glendale home, police said.

Earlier this month, Glendale police received a tip regarding a prescription drug dealer operating out of a home in the 1100 block of Thompson Avenue, Glendale Police spokeswoman Tahnee Lightfoot told Times Community News.

While conducting surveillance on Tuesday afternoon, detectives reportedly witnessed the man, identified as Artak Avakian, conducting a drug transaction, Lightfoot said.

While serving a search warrant at his home, detectives reportedly seized three rifles, a shotgun, a pistol, more than 450 prescription pills, 20 ecstasy pills, 13 small bags of cocaine, an ounce of psilocybin and a small bag of methamphetamine, along with a digital scale, cash and a cellphone with text messages referring to drug sales.

“During the investigation, detectives learned that Avakian was employed as an Uber driver for two years and it is suspected that he used the position as a cover to sell drugs,” Lightfoot wrote in a news release.

Avakian was released after posting bail and is due in court in November, Lightfoot said.

alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com

Alene Tchekmedyian writes for Times Community News.