Garcia pleads not guilty to crimes

Jackson Bell

The man accused of killing a Burbank police officer last month

pleaded not guilty to murder and attempted murder charges Tuesday.

During his arraignment in Pasadena Superior Court, 19-year-old

David A. Garcia of Sun Valley was ordered held without bail. His next

court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 28, when a preliminary hearing

date will be set.

Dressed in a gray knit shirt and jeans, Garcia avoided eye contact

with the courtroom gallery and sat quietly next to attorney, Andrew

Flier.

“Mr. Garcia entered a plea of not guilty because that’s his

position, and our position, right now,” Flier said during a press

conference afterward.

Flier, a private lawyer recently retained by the defendant’s

family and friends, said he has yet to receive a videotape of the

Nov. 15 shooting, during which rookie Burbank Police Officer Matthew

Pavelka was fatally wounded.

The incident was recorded by the Ramada Inn at 2900 N. San

Fernando Blvd., the site of the deadly shooting.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Keri Modder confirmed Tuesday that the

videotape exists, but declined to comment on what it revealed.

Garcia is charged with Pavelka’s killing, and critically injuring

veteran Officer Gregory Campbell. Additionally, Garcia faces

special-circumstance charges for the murder of a peace officer in the

line of duty along with murder for the purpose of avoiding arrest --

charges that could make him eligible for the death penalty if

convicted.

But prosecutors have not decided whether to seek the death

penalty, Modder said.

“The decision will happen after the preliminary hearing, after

some of the facts come out, after we’ve done some investigation as to

his background, factors in mitigation, factors in aggravation,” she

said.