Van Nuys City Hall Janitor Seized as Break-In Suspect

A man who was facing dismissal from his job as a janitor at Van Nuys City Hall was arrested last weekend trying to break into the building, police said Tuesday, and detectives believe he is responsible for four other break-ins there in the last three months.

Alton Cooley, 32, of Van Nuys, who also has used the name John Frazier, was arrested about 1 a.m. Saturday after he smashed a window in a rear maintenance office, Los Angeles police Detective Charles Barnes said.

Cooley “was in the process of being fired” at the time of the first two thefts in December, when someone entered the locked building late at night using what police thought was a spare set of keys, Barnes said.

Barnes said he did not know why Cooley was being fired or whether he was, in fact, dismissed.

Office Equipment Stolen

In the December break-ins, a typewriter and microwave oven were taken from the city attorney’s office, and $10,000 worth of office equipment was taken from an office shared by Councilmen Joel Wachs and Ernani Bernardi.

The locks on the outside of the building were changed, Barnes said. But in break-ins in January and February, someone entered by smashing windows on the ground floor.

About $5,000 worth of office equipment was taken from Mayor Tom Bradley’s office and a Department of Street Maintenance office in January, and a $1,000 typewriter was taken from the city attorney’s office in February, according to police.

Early Saturday, a group of citizens who watch crime-troubled areas for police saw Cooley acting suspiciously before hearing glass breaking, Barnes said. The group contacted police by radio, and officers arrested Cooley, who was carrying a pry bar, the detective said.

Cooley has denied involvement in the break-ins, Barnes said.

A search of Cooley’s Van Nuys residence did not turn up any of the stolen goods, but police found more than 15 grams of cocaine, Barnes said.

Cooley was being held without bail Tuesday in Van Nuys Jail on suspicion of burglary and possession of cocaine, police said. He is scheduled for arraignment today in Van Nuys Municipal Court.