Former Police Officer Foils Attempted Purse-Snatching

A retired Los Angeles police officer foiled a purse-snatching attempt in Arleta on Sunday and helped nab the would-be thief, police said.

Former Los Angeles Police Officer Robert Platzer, who retired about a year ago, was driving south on Beachy Avenue about 2:40 p.m. when he looked in his rearview mirror and saw a teen-ager yank a purse from a woman’s shoulder, Sgt. Gene Fretheim said.

Platzer, 53, made a U-turn and swerved his car in front of the youth as the boy ran north on Beachy, Fretheim said. Platzer then gave chase on foot as the teen-ager fled down a side street.

The youth apparently dropped the purse in front of a home on Rayen Street, Fretheim said. While Platzer stopped to tell neighbors to call police, two bystanders apprehended the teen-ager, who had apparently toted a gun before throwing it down during the pursuit, Fretheim said. Police found the weapon on the corner of Rayen and Beachy.

After being caught, the 17-year-old suspect, an Arleta youth with outstanding traffic warrants, told officers of two alleged accomplices, Fretheim said. The alleged accomplices were later found hiding in a bedroom of a home on neighboring Wingo Street, he said. All three suspects were identified by the woman and arrested on suspicion of robbery.

The youth and a 17-year-old Arleta accomplice were taken to Sylmar Juvenile Hall, Fretheim said. Also arrested was Luis Lucien Augustin, 18, of North Hollywood. Augustin was booked into the Foothill Division jail and was being held in lieu of $35,272 bail, Fretheim said.