818 Roundup: Horses briefly taste unstabled life, Burbank pharmacy burglarized and a new bus route

Good morning, 818. Today is Wednesday, March 2, 2016. Temperatures for today are forecasted to reach a high of 81 and a low of 53, according to the National Weather Service.

Here are your local headlines:

Crime and Public Safety

Man faces a slew of charges

Murder suspect Artyom Gasparyan, 32, who led police on a weeks-long manhunt during a violent crime spree throughout Los Angeles County, which included a double shooting in Burbank, was charged Tuesday in a 24-count complaint that includes murder, attempted murder, robbery and carjacking charges, officials said. Burbank Leader

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Brawl in Burbank

Police are investigating a group fight that took place Monday night in a Burbank parking structure and involved knives, a baseball bat and tire irons, police said. Several men were detained with minor to moderate injuries, but they declined medical care and refused to answer questions about how they were injured. Burbank Leader

Homeless man arrested

A 24-year-old homeless man was arrested Saturday after a police cadet reportedly saw him masturbating in a lobby of a Glendale Community College building, police said. Someone called campus police to report a man acting suspiciously in the San Gabriel building, and when a cadet responded, the suspect — later identified as Kerry Smith — was watching something on his cell phone while masturbating, said Glendale Police Sgt. Robert William. Glendale News-Press

Pharmacy burglary caught on camera

Police are seeking help identifying two suspected burglars caught on camera last week breaking into a Burbank pharmacy. Last Wednesday morning, the pair reportedly used a rock to smash a window of a Glenoaks Boulevard pharmacy, and tried — unsuccessfully — to break into a secure drug storage area before stealing cash from a register and fleeing. Burbank Leader

Experiment goes awry

Two people were hospitalized with minor injuries Monday following a vent malfunction during a classroom chemistry experiment at Glendale Community College, officials said. Multiple classrooms were evacuated from a campus building just after 11 a.m. as Glendale and Burbank hazardous materials crews responded to the school. Glendale News-Press

Arrest made after chase, crash

A reputed gang member was arrested after leading police on a pursuit Saturday night that ended when he crashed into a parked car, causing his vehicle to roll over, police said. First responders extricated Lancaster resident Daniel Lachnit from his car and took him to a nearby hospital, where he was cleared for booking. Glendale News-Press

Horses run free — briefly

Two horses escaped from their stables Sunday evening and spent 15 minutes running through a Burbank neighborhood near the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, police said. Several officers and fire officials tried to corral the horses before reaching someone at the equestrian center who was able to get a hold of them. Burbank Leader

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Education

Local students take next step in music competition

Six students from Burbank are among 111 semifinalists in the Music Center’s 28th annual Spotlight competition, a scholarship and arts-training program for teens. Each semifinalist will audition again before a new panel of judges, who will then select the top two finalists in each category — acting, ballet, non-classical dance, classical voice, non-classical voice, classical instrumental and jazz instrumental — for a total of 14 finalists. Burbank Leader

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Civic News and Politics

New Metro route opens

New route 501, also called the “NoHo to Pasadena Express,” service on the route started this week and will operate seven days a week at high frequency, connecting the San Fernando Valley and the San Gabriel Valley during a $1.2-million, 180-day trial run, after which it will be evaluated and could be modified or discontinued. Burbank Leader

Public invited to weigh in on city manager search

Burbank residents will have an opportunity tonight to weigh in on what qualities they want to see in a permanent city manager. A public meeting will be held at 6 p.m. in room 104 in the Community Services Building, 150 N. Third St., to allow community input during the recruiting process to fill the vacancy created when Mark Scott departed the city’s top executive position in early February. Burbank Leader

Another round of utility box art?

The Burbank Cultural Arts Commission is planning to initiate a second round of its utility box beautification program, which last year selected and paid seven artists to each paint an original mural on pad-mounted electric equipment boxes throughout the city. Burbank Leader

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In the Community

Forum for faith

On Sunday, La Cañada Presbyterian Church and the Islamic Congregation of La Cañada will co-host a free and open community forum, “Religious Extremism: Conversation and Collaboration in Our Community.” Moderated by KABC-TV meteorologist Dallas Raines, the interfaith discussion aims to start local conversations about global and national acts of terror and the diverse local communities that must operate in their aftermath. La Cañada Valley Sun

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Ryan Fonseca, ryan.fonseca@latimes.com

Twitter: @RyFons