On Monday February 22, 2010, Neighborhood Prosecutor Raffy Astvasadoorian was traveling from the Van Nuys Courthouse to LAPD West Valley Station when he observed an SUV weaving badly from the number one lane into the painted median.
Astvasadoorian pulled up next to the SUV at a red light and looked over to see what could have been causing the driver to weave so badly. Expecting to see the driver eating or talking on a cell phone, he Instead observed the male driver holding a 9mm pistol in his right hand, laid across his chest pointing towards the driver's side door. The driver was having difficulty holding his head up and appeared to be trying to cock the gun.
Astvasadoorian immediately called 911 from his cell phone to report a possible DUI driver holding a hand gun. He followed the vehicle while relaying information about the car to the 911 operator. Within one minute of the 911 call, five LAPD West Valley Division squad cars pulled the driver over.
The suspect admitted to drinking vodka and the gun that was recovered was a loaded 9mm gun. The District Attorney's Office filed one felony count of Penal Code 12031(a)(1) and the case is set for arraignment.
