Suspect Compared to "Jason Bourne" Arrested in Arts District Standoff
Eric Richardson
[Flickr]
LAPD officers lead a man they know as Brian Alexik to a waiting rescue vehicle after arresting him.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Brian Alexik, the man who police compared to movie figure "Jason Bourne" after he eluded capture in April, was arrested today following a three hour standoff in the Arts District.
On April 19, officers responding to diesel fumes coming from Alexik's unit in the Reserve Lofts found loaded weapons, counterfeit money and drugs. The 33-year-old eluded capture by escaping out the building's fire escape. Multiple passports were found in the unit, all with different names.
This morning, police following up on a lead surrounded the American Hotel at Traction and Hewitt, approaching a unit occupied by a girl they believe to be Alexik's girlfriend.
"Ultimately what she told us was that Alexik was inside the location," explained Steven Sambar of LAPD's Major Crimes division. "Out of caution and concern from the evidence that we had before ... we used our caution to ensure our Special Weapons and Tactics came out to assist us in making contact with him. He did voluntarily submit to arrest."
Alexik's surrender came shortly before 2pm. He was wanted on three felony charges: possession of assault weapons, possession of a short barrel shotgun, and of being a convicted felon with a gun. More charges could come later, as could charges against the woman in whose unit Alexik was found.
"She's cooperating with us, but based upon our interview and what we find inside the apartment, we could very well arrest her for perhaps harboring a fugitive," said Sambar.
Guest on June 03, 2010, at 04:40PM – #1
Enjoy your new friends in jail.
Dixon on June 03, 2010, at 05:26PM – #2
I wonder if he already had his cap on backwards or if the cops stuck it on him that way after handcuffing him.
Guest on June 03, 2010, at 09:01PM – #3
Didn't the Reserve Lofts think it was suspicious that the guy paid for the penthouse with stacks of cash for the whole year?
Guest on June 03, 2010, at 09:03PM – #4
Ciscustop: I love you posts... they are always so insightful....
Guest on June 03, 2010, at 11:18PM – #5
I think Reserve Lofts didn't give two shits how he paid, as long as he did.
Bert Green (@bgfa) on June 04, 2010, at 01:03AM – #6
Does the next tenant at the Reserve get to keep the CIA mosaic?
Guest on June 04, 2010, at 03:56AM – #7
He didn't pay for the whole year up front. That report was incorrect and has been stated as such in previous articles.
Guest on June 04, 2010, at 06:06AM – #8
LA Times: The $3,400-a-month penthouse was leased one year in advance, with payment in stacks of cash, police said.
Sorry, someone leasing with stacks of bills for a year for the most expensive if not the most expensive place in the building is unusual
Guest on June 04, 2010, at 09:51AM – #9
He could have negotiated a much lower rent. Landlords are desperate these days.
Tsk.
Guest on June 04, 2010, at 01:31PM – #10
Simply amazing photo capture. Congratulations Johnny on the Spot!
Howie on the Hill
Guest on June 04, 2010, at 09:43PM – #11
Fire escape or front door? Media reports fire escape, locals say front door.
Locals, not media, also say paid monthly in cash. Under $10,000 cash transactions are not required to be reported as such. So if he'd paid full year in advance, the cash transaction report should have been done. Then it becomes professional law enforcement's job to determine if it is suspicious or not. If he paid in monthly cash installments, no reporting is required. Hmm, I wonder if a counterfeiter knew which method to use?
What's more concerning is the weapons cache and ties to weapons manufacturing operations in LA. Keep an eye on this case for that reason alone.
Guest on June 07, 2010, at 04:09AM – #12
Guest on June 04, 2010, at 06:06AM – #8
LA Times: The $3,400-a-month penthouse was leased one year in advance, with payment in stacks of cash, police said.
••••
Brilliant detective work. Like I said, subsequent articles have stated this was incorrect.
Guest on June 07, 2010, at 04:13AM – #13
Source:
"After signing a 12-month lease for unit 701 last year, Alexik paid on time on a monthly basis in cash. Contrary to some media reports, he did not pay an entire year’s rent in cash up front, a spokesman for the building management said."
http://www.ladowntownnews.com/articles/2010/05/21/news/doc4bf6bfa6dcd1d262484033.txt
Edward Anastas on June 08, 2010, at 09:17AM – #14
Jason Bourne didn't deal drugs and weapons?
Guest on June 08, 2010, at 09:16PM – #15
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/apr/29/local/la-me-0430-bourne-escape-m
I'll take the LA Times in this instance thanks. I find it hard to believe that there weren't other warning signs as well other than paying for the most expensive place in the building with curiously fresh stack of bills. Was this the first time these fumes came out of the apartment? And this guy was carrying heavy duty hardware in out of the building with a substantial criminal record where people make their home? Nice!
Guest on June 09, 2010, at 06:55AM – #16
Sure, it's your choice to reference an older article. Who cares if a more recent article has clarified things? By the way, how do you breathe with your head in the sand? Miraculous.
Guest on June 09, 2010, at 01:14PM – #17
So I'm not sure what your point is ... the guy was above suspicion or you're questioning how to properly validate a source? I think you need more than a date. In my experience, fellow anonymous poster, NOTHING like this ever happens without flashing warning signs of some kind. That was the main point. As if the cash, even paid monthly, this guy's specific criminal record weren't giveaways? Please. Don't they run background and credit checks? If I lived there, I'd be livid.
Guest on June 10, 2010, at 05:09AM – #18
My point (reference my first post on the matter) is simply that the claim Alexik paid for the apartment a year in advance with stacks of cash has since been invalidated. Nothing more, nothing less.
Guest on June 10, 2010, at 06:55AM – #19
Invalidated because the building spokesman refuted it according to one article? Do you find that surprising given that someone like me might say that represents fault on their part? This was a really bad guy doing bad things where people live! I don't know what happened exactly and neither do you. The LA Times said that the police reported otherwise and they never corrected the claim. Again, you need more than a date to validate a source as any basic course in research will tell you. This is precisely why I never post because someone will nitpick on details with insufficient information while ignoring the broader point. Perhaps if you feel this strongly about it, you should ask the Times for a retraction or you can always resort to ad hominem attack if that doesn't work (your post further above. Enough already.
Guest on September 06, 2010, at 01:19AM – #20
just thought i'd give you all an inside update... i was recently in the los angeles county jail with this dude, he was in my dorm and nobody knew much about him other that he was a scared ass whiteboy that did whatever we told him, and bought all the homies whatever we told him to buy for us in comissary...we were punking that fool. Anyway one day we get the newspaper in our dorm and there was a front page article about him complete with pictures and all.. if not for the pics we would never have thought they were talking about that weenie ass whiteboy... he used to try to show us his paperwork and ask our opinions on his case, but we didnt give a rats ass about that dude other than having him as our go-fer... hes all stressed out in jail like a little beeatch!!! the media put way too much on his story, hes just another tweeked out ass whiteboy that had too much time and fake money on his hands, the dude is fukin harmless i can say that for a fact...
Guest on December 19, 2010, at 04:52PM – #21
Yeah, just curious, uh Mr. "we punked dis White boy". Uh, how could he been in county with you when he's already been extradited to another state on federal charges?
Me thinks someone is a troll or a wanna be 'homie' punk.