Armenian Power gang check yields guns, 200 marijuana plants

Police conducting a probation compliance check Friday on a known Armenian gang member seized hundreds of marijuana plants at an elaborate growing operation in a Sun Valley garage.

Investigators with the Glendale Police Department were conducting the check about 6:20 a.m. in the 9000 block of Lanark Street when they found the cannabis plants.

They were looking for Andrey Arutyunyan, “a known Armenian Power gang member” on probation for a 2015 narcotics paraphernalia conviction in Glendale, police spokeswoman Tahnee Lightfoot said.

Detained at the scene were 27-year-old Armen Simonyan, 28-year-old Michael Petrosian and his 24-year-old wife, Marine Petrosian, Lightfoot said.

“Officers obtained a search warrant and recovered over 200 marijuana plants, cash, packaging materials and five pounds of packaged marijuana,” Lightfoot said. “In addition, officers recovered a loaded pistol-grip shotgun and a 40 mm loaded handgun.”

Simonyan was searched and found to be “in possession of fraudulent identification and credit cards as well as other items related to identity theft,” Lightfoot alleged.

“All three suspects were arrested for cultivation, drug sales and identity theft and fraud violations,” she said.

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power personnel were summoned and confirmed that the electrical service to the address was disconnected “due a $4,000 pending payment and illegal electrical work,” Lightfoot said.

“Glendale’s officers located evidence indicating Arutyunyan had ties to the residence. However, he was not present at the time of the investigation,” Lightfoot said.

— City News Service