Police tackle theft suspect a second time after hospital escape attempt
By Jory Rand
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SUN VALLEY, California (KABC) — An alleged thief was arrested after a wild takedown inside a San Fernando Valley Kohl’s store caught on police body camera video, but that wasn’t his only escape attempt.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, officers were conducting extra patrol at the Sun Valley Kohl’s store located in the 8500 block of Laurel Canyon Boulevard on Aug. 1 due to a recent theft report.
Officers were walking through the store when they saw the suspect, 49-year-old Gregory Pekarek, in the men’s clothing aisle, kneeling while holding a large number of jeans in his arms.
Officers then approached Pekarek and began speaking with him, the suspect attempted to run. That’s when the wild takedown took place.
Pekarek hit his head on a clothing rack but continued to resist.
Officers eventually took the bloodied suspect into custody. Pekarek was taken to a local hospital for treatment on a cut above his right eye.
Once he was cleaned up, Pekarek tried to make another break for it. Again, he did not get very far.
“Get on the ground! Get on the ground!” an officer is heard in the video.
For a second time that night, Pekarek was taken into custody. He was transported to the Twin Towers Correctional facility where he was booked for burglary.
The next day, medical staff determined Pekarek was experiencing a medical condition related to the use of force with the officers and he was readmitted to the hospital for observation.
He was later charged by the district attorney’s office with three counts of grand theft, one count of attempted grand theft and two counts of resisting arrest.
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