Suspected gunman in slaying of Burbank officer arrested in Mexico

BURBANK, Calif. (AP) A 19-year-old man suspected of fatally shooting a rookie officer was arrested in Mexico and returned to California to face charges of murder and attempted murder, officials said.

Officer Matthew Pavelka, 26, became the first law enforcement official murdered in the 82-year history of the Burbank Police Department on Nov. 15 when two gunmen showered him and a second officer with gunfire.

David A. Garcia, a suspected gunman, quickly became the focus of an intense manhunt and was taken into custody Thursday after Mexican authorities found him in a residential area in Tijuana, said Burbank Police Chief Tom Hoefel.

Garcia will be arraigned Tuesday on charges of murder and attempted murder and face the special allegation of killing a police officer, said District Attorney Steve Cooley at a news conference with U.S. law enforcement officials and Pavelka's family.

``When it comes to murdering one of our police officers, we don't forgive, we don't forget, we don't give up,'' Cooley said.

The slain officer's father, Michael Pavelka, a 29-year veteran with the Los Angeles Police Department, thanked authorities for apprehending Garcia.

``I'm feeling a sense of relief,'' he told reporters. ``The man is in custody and we can now move on.''

Gang members and friends had helped Garcia elude police and escape to Mexico, Hoefel said. U.S. authorities were alerted to his whereabouts several days ago. Garcia was turned over to U.S. law enforcement officials and being held without bail at an unspecified location, Hoefel said.

The shooting occurred after Garcia and Ramon Aranda, 25, were stopped by Officer Gregory Campbell in a hotel parking lot for driving without license plates. The two men suddenly got out of their vehicle and started shooting, authorities said.

Campbell and Pavelka, who had arrived as backup, returned fire and Pavelka and Aranda were killed in the shootout. Campbell, a 15-year veteran, remained hospitalized Thursday in a nearby hospital and was expected to fully recovery, said Burbank police Sgt. William Berry.

More than 60 people, including several of Garcia's friends, family members and gang associates, have been arrested in the ongoing investigation, Hoefel said. Nearly half of those arrested were taken into custody for investigation of aiding and abetting Garcia, he said.

In a memorial service attended by thousands of officers last week, Pavelka was remembered as a happy-go-lucky prankster who was proud of his 10 months of service.

On Thursday, bouquets of flowers, candles and cards lay before the city's police and fire department headquarters in memory of Pavelka.

``Thank you for protecting are city,'' read a misspelled crayon drawing of a policeman and angels by a young girl named Sally. ``You are truly one of god angels.''

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