Gunmen Suspected in More Than 1 Heist

Two men suspected of robbing a sporting goods store and exchanging gunfire with a police officer may be connected to several other heists that occurred earlier this week, police said Thursday.

Gary Kanan, 41, and Jeffrey Goldstein, 18, both of West Hills, were arrested after a string of events that ended when Kanan checked himself into a hospital for a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the groin. Goldstein was found waiting outside, police said.

Police suspect the two may have been responsible for at least one bank robbery this week and possibly more, although they would not elaborate.

“We are looking into the possibility that these guys were connected with some other robberies over the past couple of days,” said Sgt. John Pasquariello, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department.

Goldstein was booked on suspicion of attempted murder of a police officer and may face additional charges when the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office files the case, authorities said. He is being held at Van Nuys Jail in lieu of $2 million bail.

Kanan is under guard at Northridge Hospital Medical Center, where he is recovering from the gunshot wound.

The two men are suspected of stealing about $1,200 on Wednesday afternoon from a Sport Chalet store in La Canada Flintridge, police said. Kanan and Goldstein allegedly sped away in a red Pontiac Trans Am, stopping in Sunland, where they are accused of binding and gagging a resident and stealing his sports utility vehicle.

A police officer spotted the stolen vehicle and two men opened fire on the patrol car, hitting it several times, Pasquariello said. Gunfire was returned by a 25-year-old police officer, a four-year department veteran whose name was withheld by police. The officer suffered minor injuries when he ran for cover.