John Walker Shows You Can Make a Difference, Helps ID Suspect

John Walker was walking his dog Sunday morning when he saw a vandal at the streetlight at the corner of Ventura Boulevard and Tujunga Avenue.

"I witnessed a man, stop and get off of his bike and throw bottles at the glass where the bus bench is located, breaking all the glass into tiny shards," Walker explained. "From across the street I yelled at him to stop. He turned, looked and got on his bike and rode down towards the [Los Angeles] River."

Walker followed after the light changed. He walked onto the Tujunga Bridge and saw the man throwing junk over the fence into the river and tossing things at the buildings up high facing Ventura Boulevard. Then, the vandal went to the bathroom.

Walker called police, but the man left the scene. However, within 15 minutes, the Los Angeles Police called him back and asked him if he would identify a potential suspect.

From a safe distance, Walker ID'd the suspect. They cuffed him and took him in.

Walker said, "From the police point of view, not enough citizens get involved and they could be so much more effective in solving crimes and making arrests with help from the community."

Walker told Studio City Patch, and we encouraged him to let us tell his story.

He didn't tell it for pat-on-the-back, but said, "The actual point is to remind us all that we really can make a difference locally."

And that, he did.