Garcia dragnet snares more
Ryan Carter
While prosecutors filed capital murder charges against David A.
Garcia in connection with the shooting death of a Burbank Police
officer, authorities continue to file charges against associates who
allegedly helped him elude capture.
“We want people to know that in this case, and further cases,
someone who kills a police officer or assists him in any way, is
going to be found and brought to justice,” Burbank Police Sgt.
William Berry said.
Luis Armando Sandoval, 21, was charged Monday in Burbank Superior
Court with being an accessory to what officials believe was Garcia’s
escape from a Nov. 15 gun battle during a traffic stop at the Burbank
Ramada Inn. The shootout left Officer Matthew Pavelka, 26, dead and
Officer Gregory Campbell, 41, with serious injuries to the neck and
stomach. Another man who was with Garcia during the shootout,
25-year-old Ramon Aranda, died from gunshot wounds at the scene.
Of the 44 people arrested in connection with Garcia’s escape,
prosecutors have filed charges against five people, ranging from
harboring him to weapons and drug possession, authorities said.
In addition to Sandoval, defendants include Garcia’s twin brother,
James, 19, and Erwin DeLeon, 20. Both appeared in Burbank Superior
Court on Monday for a preliminary hearing that was postponed until
Dec. 8.
The brothers’ father, Ernest Garcia, who was in the courtroom
Monday for James Garcia’s hearing and again Tuesday for David
Garcia’s arraignment, declined to comment.
Authorities also obtained arrest warrants for two northeast San
Fernando Valley men for being accessories after the fact and
cultivating marijuana. Both were still being sought late Tuesday.
Sandi Gibbons, spokeswoman for the office of the Los Angeles County
District Attorney, said charges were filed against them Monday.
“They have not been found. They are considered fugitives,” Gibbons
said.
Police and prosecutors said Tuesday that although Garcia had been
arrested, they are considering filing more charges against more
people in the case, and they continue to hold out the possibility of
more arrests.
“At this point, we are still siphoning through reports and working
with police, so right now, I don’t know what we’re going to do,” said
Deputy Dist. Atty. Keri Modder from the office’s Crimes Against
Police Officers section.