Police continue search for suspect
Ryan Carter
Burbank Police, with assistance from other law-enforcement agencies,
continued late Tuesday to scour the area for David A. Garcia, the
suspected killer of one of their own.
“We have not found him as of yet, but we’re still getting leads
and we are following up,” Burbank Police Sgt. William Berry said. “We
are going to turn over every rock until we find the one he is hiding
under.”
Meanwhile, the Glendale City Council decided Tuesday night to
sweeten the reward for Garcia’s capture, agreeing to chip in $25,000.
“Officer [Matthew] Pavelka was a member of Burbank Police
Department, but to all in the Glendale Police Department, he was one
of our own,” Councilman Gus Gomez said. “It’s a good thing to do
this.”
That brings the total reward to $110,000, including $50,000
offered by Burbank and $25,000 offered by the city of Los Angeles.
The L.A. County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday also voted to
contribute an additional $10,000 for Garcia’s capture.
Police believe Garcia, 19, and Ramon Aranda, 25, shot and killed
rookie Burbank Police Officer Matthew Pavelka, 26, and critically
wounded Officer Gregory Campbell on Nov. 15 during a traffic stop in
a parking lot at the Ramada Inn on North San Fernando Boulevard.
Campbell, who was shot in the neck and stomach in the gun battle, is
expected to live, but remains hospitalized. Aranda was killed in the
shootout.
The search for Garcia, who fled after the shooting, has not let up
since the incident, and the bounty on him continues to grow while
authorities crack down on his alleged associates.
Since the shooting, police have served 50 search warrants and made
45 arrests, at least 26 for harboring, Berry said, adding that the
numbers will increase. About 23 people have been released, Berry
said.
“People are giving us tips, and we’re getting search warrants and
we’re going to the residence where the guy was seen,” Berry said.
“And while were in there, with the search warrant, if we see a crime
in progress, we can arrest for it.”
Berry said a task force of more than 150 officers from local,
state and federal agencies is working in shifts to bring Garcia to
justice.
Based on tips and because Garcia has family and gang ties in Sun
Valley, police believe he could still be in the northeast San
Fernando Valley.
In a related development, a Burbank Superior Court judge Monday
refused to lower the $600,000 bail set for Garcia’s twin brother,
James B. Garcia, who last week was charged along with Erwin DeLeon,
20, with being accessories after the fact, possessing a machine gun,
a silencer and assault weapons. They face up to six years in prison
if convicted.
“We have to send a message that we are not targets, that people
will not be able to shoot down police with impunity,” Berry said.
“They initiated the firing. They are the ones who came out firing at
police with two guns each.”