Police Say Attacker Tried to Rape Civilian Employee While She Was Jogging on Her Early Morning Break
By Jackson Bell, The Los Angeles Times
NORTHEAST GLENDALE, Calif. — A Glendale man allegedly attempted to rape a female Glendale Police dispatcher working the overnight shift as she was jogging along a busy corridor during her break, authorities said Monday.
Gilbert Hovossian Khachikian, 38, allegedly attacked the dispatcher about 3:30 a.m. Sunday along the 400 block of East Broadway, police said.
“It was very fortunate that she likes to stay in good shape,” said Sgt. Tom Lorenz, the department’s spokesman. “As a result, when the suspect attempted to accost her she was able to aggressively fight him off, free herself and make a call to the police department where she works.”
The dispatcher told police that she was jogging east on Broadway when she passed Khachikian, who was walking. She slowed to a walk to cool down from the run when she heard footsteps and saw Khachikian running toward her, police said, adding that she stepped out of his way because she thought he was also exercising.
But he sprinted toward the dispatcher and grabbed her with both hands, telling her to give him a kiss and crudely complimenting her physical features, police said. He then pointed to the First United Methodist Church, which was nearby at 134 N. Kenwood St., in a suggestive manner, police said.
The dispatcher pushed him away and attempted to call 911 on her cellphone, but was too shaken to dial. When he tried to grab her again, she punched his chest and ran to the nearest pay phone, police said.
Khachikian followed her and challenged her to fight, police said. She kept him away by kicking at him while reporting the alleged crime to police, and he eventually ran down an alley, police said.
Seven Glendale officers found her shaking and crying. Police searched the area and found Khachikian in the church’s yard in the fetal position, authorities said.
Khachikian is scheduled to be arraigned today in Glendale Superior Court. As of late Monday, he was being held in Glendale City Jail on $100,000 bail, Lorenz said.
The alleged attack was especially unusual because the dispatcher was in a well-lighted and heavily traveled street a few blocks from the police station, he said.
“We do not want anyone to think that this is a city where one can’t take in the early morning or late-evening hours,” Lorenz said. “This is a safe community. These things don’t normally happen.”