Campaign Urges Victims to Report Extortion

GLENDALE — Police plan an aggressive program to encourage victims to report crimes as a hotline failed to produce tips about extortion in the city’s immigrant communities.

The Glendale Police Department, which is especially interested in improving relations with newcomers in the local Armenian and Asian communities, will launch a campaign this week in local ethnic newspapers, television programs and with community groups to encourage residents to feel at ease with police.

The hotline--at (818) 548-2119--began Dec. 20, after an alleged extortion attempt ended in a shootout that killed two men, including a bystander. Six men have been arrested for murder and robbery and police are seeking a seventh suspect, Samvel Krboyan, 42, of Van Nuys.

“The calls are very slow to nonexistent at this point,” Sgt. Rick Young said. “No big tip has come in to work on.”

Young said the slow response was not surprising considering that the hotline is new and was launched in the middle of the holiday season.

Police, led by spokesman Chahe Keuroghelian, plan to especially intensify attempts to reach the Armenian community, whose businesses appear to be targeted the most, authorities said.

The recent shooting at the Mirage Clothing & Shoes store on Glendale Avenue heightened local and federal authorities’ ongoing concerns about possible Russian and Armenian extortion and related crimes in the region.

The six suspects who are scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday are Gagik Kazarian, 42, of Glendale; Khoren Broutian, 32, of Hollywood; Hovik Fiterz, 36, and Mger Tagvoryan, 23, both of North Hollywood; and Hovhanes Pakvoryan, 23, and Karen Pakvoryan, 22, both of Van Nuys.

Authorities said an investigation is continuing.

“The extortion, that’s really unacceptable,” Young said. “We have to outweigh the public’s fears of retaliation.”

Several community representatives remain unconvinced that extortion is widespread, but they agree that educating newly arrived immigrants who may distrust police can only help.

“If there’s extortion going on, then we want to be part of the solution of stopping that activity,” said Vicken Sonentz-Papazian, executive director of the Armenian National Committee’s western region. “We’ve worked with Chahe in the past in getting messages out. We certainly would be willing to do that again.”

Authorities said the nonprofit Glendale Crime Stoppers organization, which offers up to $1,000 for a tip that leads to an arrest, has been helpful since it was founded nearly two years ago. Anonymous tips can be made by calling (818) 507-STOP.

“They’ve got to get to the community,” said Rick Barnes, the organization’s president, referring to Glendale police. “It creates a relationship. All of us trust relationships.”

In nearby Burbank, police said a strong relationship with merchants has helped them as well. The last hint of business extortion came about three years ago, when a suspected Asian extortionist contacted a local merchant but authorities were notified and the threat dissipated, police said.

“We haven’t had a problem with it,” Lt. Don Brown said. “If it’s there, it’s very quiet. It’s not showing itself.”