Figure in LAPD scandal is arrested

GLENDALE — A central figure in a scandal that rocked the Los Angeles Police Department Rampart Division is scheduled to be arraigned today after he was arrested by Glendale police following a high-speed chase that started in the city.

Javier Francisco Ovando, 31, was taken into custody Sunday after a pursuit that lasted an hour and spanned seven freeways. He was booked on suspicion of evading a police officer and reckless driving.

Ovando received the largest police misconduct settlement in Los Angeles history in 2000 after being shot and framed by LAPD officers in 1996.

Police officers stopped Ovando’s vehicle about 7:15 p.m. at Colorado Street and Brand Boulevard for a traffic violation, Glendale police Sgt. Harley Wing said. The vehicle fled officers as they tried to complete the traffic stop, he said.

“He ran several red lights before he headed onto the freeway,” Wing said.

Police followed Ovando onto the 134, 210, 605, 110, 10, 5 and 60 freeways during the chase, which reached speeds of more than 90 mph, Wing said.

Ovando finally stopped about 8:15 p.m. in the 1700 block of Eckhart Avenue in Rosemead, an unincorporated area of south San Gabriel, Wing said.

“He pulled over in front of his attorney’s home,” Wing said.

Ovando was released about 1:50 a.m. Monday from the Glendale Police Department jail after posting $100,000 bail, according to Los Angeles County inmate information.

Ovando, who was a reputed member of the 18th Street gang, was shot four times in 1996 by ex-LAPD officer Rafael Perez and his partner Nino Durden. Ovando was left paralyzed.

Perez told authorities that he and Durden shot Ovando and planted a TEC-22 short-barreled assault rifle on him to rationalize the shooting.

Ovando was found guilty during his 1997 court case in connection with the shooting and spent two years in prison. His conviction was overturned in 1999 after authorities determined that testimony by Durden and Perez was false.

Ovando sued Los Angeles County for providing him with an incompetent public defender, who should have discovered Perez had tried to frame him. Ovando won his case and received a $15-million settlement in 2000 from the city of Los Angeles.

The lawsuit was connected to the LAPD Rampart scandal that accused eight officers of corruption and police abuse.Perez testified to a pattern of police corruption within the Rampart Division in order to get a reduced sentence for falsifying testimony and being involved in police misconduct. He accused about 70 division officers of being involved in shootings, beatings and false arrests.

A federal court judge sentenced Perez to two years in prison for violating Ovando’s civil rights.

State prosecutors granted Perez immunity for framing Ovando. Perez was released from prison in 2001.

 VERONICA ROCHA covers public safety and the courts. She may be reached at (818) 637-3232 or by e-mail at veronica.rocha@latimes.com.