A North Hollywood probationer was charged Thursday with assaulting a Burbank police officer who was called to investigate a report about bottles of alcohol stolen from a pharmacy.
Mushegh Darbinyan — who is on probation in a burglary case — allegedly refused to follow the orders of the officer who was trying to detain him outside the CVS store at 511 N. Hollywood Way and backed up his van with the driver’s side door open early Sunday afternoon, according to a statement from Burbank police.
The police officer became wedged in between the door and the van and was dragged several yards before being thrown to the ground, according to police.
The injured officer was able to get up, radio for assistance and begin to chase the van, but lost sight of the vehicle, police said. The officer was treated at a hospital and is recovering at home, police said.
Darbinyan, 43, was arrested Tuesday near his home, and investigators served a search warrant at his home, where they allegedly located evidence linking him to the assault.
Burbank police investigators allege that Darbinyan stole nearly $3,000 in alcohol and cosmetics from the same CVS store on May 3 and May 16.
He is charged with one felony count each of assault on a peace officer and felony grand theft, along with a misdemeanor charge of misdemeanor petty theft, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
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