HOLLYWOOD—Karapet Kirichyan, 46, of North Hollywood was charged on Friday, January 11 after leading officers on a pursuit with a stolen van that caused injuries to several people the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Kirichyan is facing three felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon, a vehicle, one felony count each of fleeing a pursuing peace officer’s motor vehicle while driving recklessly, driving or taking a vehicle without consent and two felony counts of hit and run resulting in injury to another person.
The criminal complaint includes one misdemeanor count of hit and run driving resulting in property damage and allegations of prior convictions for burglary, vehicle theft and grand theft.
The incident occurred on January 9, where the defendant allegedly stole a work van on the 10700 block of Magnolia Boulevard in Van Nuys. Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department saw the van in the 6900 block of Ranchito Avenue and initiated a pursuit, prosecutors noted.
During the chase, the Kirichyan allegedly collided with vehicles, causing injury to the occupants, and knocked down a tri-light pole, before the pursuit came to an end in Hollywood.
His bail was requested at $355,000. Kirichyan faces a possible maximum sentence of more than 13 years in state prison if convicted as charged. The LAPD is still investigating the case.
