3 arrested in alleged home-invasion robbery and homicide in Woodland Hills

Three men were arrested on suspicion of killing another man during an alleged home-invasion robbery in Woodland Hills, the Los Angeles Police Department announced Sunday.

Officers responded to an emergency call shortly before 1 a.m. Saturday in the 22200 block of De La Osa Street and found Aleksandre Modebadze, 47, with a head injury.

Modebadze was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Homicide detectives later determined that assailants entered Modebadze’s home, assaulted him, held him captive and stole his property, according to a statement issued by the LAPD.

Late Saturday, officers arrested three men suspected to be involved: Paata Kochyashvili, 38; Zaza Otarashvili, 46, and Besiki Khutsishvili, 52, according to the police statement. Each was booked on suspicion of murder and is being held in lieu of $2 million bail, according to jail records.

Kochyashvili was taken into custody at Sepulveda and Burbank boulevards, in Los Angeles, while the other two suspects were located in Glendale. The FBI’s Fugitive Task Force helped the LAPD with the arrests, according to FBI media coordinator Laura Eimiller.

None of the men could be reached for comment, and it was unclear whether any of them had an attorney.

Modebadze lived in a two-story home directly across from an elementary school in Woodland Hills. On Monday, a silver dog bowl sat in the yard of the home. The blinds were drawn and yellow police tape remained tied around a nearby tree.

Local residents, who declined to give their names, said it was common to see multiple cars parked outside the residence and groups of young people going in and out. Loud music also played on some nights, according to the residents.

Some neighbors recalled seeing Modebadze walking one or two doberman pinscher dogs in the area.

Police ask for anyone with information about the death to call the LAPD Operation Valley Bureau at (818) 374-9550, (877) LAPD-24-7 or (800) 222-TIPS, or to log on to www.lacrimestoppers.org.