Rich criminal thug

[DavidI]

Javier Francisco Ovando, who was awarded a $15-million settlement in the wake of the LAPD Rampart scandal in the 1990s, is arrested after leading police on a chase from Glendale to South San Gabriel.

By Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
12:39 PM PDT, June 30, 2008

A former gang member who was falsely imprisoned after being shot and framed by corrupt Los Angeles police gang officers more than a decade ago was arrested last night after leading Glendale police on a high-speed chase when he failed to stop for a traffic violation, authorities said.

Javier Francisco Ovando, 31, was arrested about 8:15 p.m. Sunday night after leading police on an hour-long chase that reached speeds of up to 90 mph on local streets and area freeways, said Sgt. Tom Lorenz of the Glendale Police Department.

The incident began when police attempted to stop Ovando shortly after 7 p.m. for a traffic violation outside the new Americana mall at the corner of Brand Boulevard and Colorado Street, Lorenz said. But Ovando sped away in a 2001 Hummer, running two red lights, he said.

The chase ended an hour later on Eckhart Avenue in an unincorporated area of South San Gabriel, Lorenz said. Ovando declared he was disabled but was able to get out of his Hummer and lie on the ground, as officers retrieved his wheelchair from the vehicle, Lorenz said.

At one point Ovando "tried to spit on an officer and grabbed one of the officer's fingers," Lorenz said. "A spitting net was placed over his face."

Ovando was arrested on suspicion of felony evading, reckless driving and assault on a peace officer, Lorenz said. He was taken into custody and remains in jail in lieu of $100,000 bail, he said.

In 1996, Ovando was paralyzed after he was shot by former Los Angeles police officers Rafael Perez and Nino Durden, and was later convicted and served 2 1/2 years of a 23-year sentence in state prison after the pair testified that he attacked them.

The conviction was overturned after the two officers emerged as key figures in the Rampart corruption scandal, which involved dozens of cases of police misconduct including beatings, shootings, and false arrests of gang members. Ovando was later awarded a $15-million settlement as the highest-profile victim of the Rampart scandal.

In 2001, Ovando pleaded guilty to transporting cocaine to Las Vegas after 50 grams of cocaine and 37 grams of marijuana were found in his Cadillac Escalade and a handgun was found beneath the hood, authorities said. Ovando at the time agreed to undergo drug treatment to avoid prison, and to forfeit $50,000 in cash, a handgun and his expensive sport-utility vehicle, all of which were seized during the arrest.

richard.winton@latimes.com

[Jeff Higgins]

Too bad Perez and Durden weren't better shots.

[m21sniper]

What kind of idiot gets 15 million (basically a live life like a king for free card) and still fuchs it all up.

What a maroon.

[sammyg2]

He'll get his, scum like that can't get away with it forever.

[DavidI]

The problem with the payout is that the money does not belong to the police department. It is the taxes that you and I pay. This criminal received our hard-earned money and still cannot straighten his life out.

David

[speeder]

That guy should have "Born to Lose" tatooed on his forehead. What an idiot.

In a strange coincidence, I met Rodney King last week. Real sweet guy, I'm not schitting you.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Too bad Perez and Durden weren't better shots.

No kidding, they could not shoot him in the head even once?

I am sure Mr King is very charming when he is not on PCP

[Danny_Ocean]

You can take the gangsta' outta da hood, but...