Earlier this month, the United States Attorney’s Office filed a document that formally accuses a Glendale Police officer, a Seal Beach resident, of accepting bribe money and lying to federal investigators. “We think the arraignment will be on Thursday, but we’re still working that out with the court,” said Thom Mrozek, public affairs officer/spokesperson, for the US Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles.
John Saro Balian, 45, a detective with the Glendale Police Department, was arrested at his Seal Beach home on Tuesday, May 15, by Federal agents on suspicion of of making false statements to Federal investigators, according to statements issued at the time by the Department of Justice and the Glendale PD. According to the Justice Department, he was arrested at home without incident.
The document, called a “criminal information,” specifically alleges three criminal counts against Balian: bribery involving programs that receive Federal Funds, obstructing justice and making false statements to Federal investigators.
According to the document, the US Attorney’s office has accused Balian of soliciting and accepting money from someone identified in the document as D.N., to use his access to law enforcement resources to locate an individual identfied in the document as “A.B.” and others.
According to the document, from April 1, 2016, to March 31, 2017, Balian’s duties at the Glendale PD included getting help from the United States Marshals Service to find fugitives. The Marshals Service has an office in Glendale, according to the court document.
In the same document, prosecutors have also accused Balian of helping an individual identified in the document as “J.G.” avoid arrest between June 16 and July 29, 2015, in a criminal matter that was not specified in the court papers filed agaisnt Balian.
In the third count, prosecutors have alleged that Balian knowingly gave a false statement to to Federal investigators about the matters described in the first and second counts.
