Burbank Man to Stand Trial in Stabbing of 3 During Robbery

A Burbank man accused of stabbing three Sears Roebuck employees after he was caught trying to steal a box of electric shavers was ordered by a judge Thursday to stand trial on assault and robbery charges.

The man, Loui Peter Rudas, 35, faces up to 21 years in prison if convicted of the three counts of assault with a deadly weapon and one robbery charge stemming from the June 12 incident at the Sears store in North Hollywood, Deputy Dist. Atty. Ron L. Smalstig said.

Plainclothes Sears security guards watched a man, later identified as Rudas, on closed-circuit television as he put electric shavers into a box and began to walk out of the store, security manager Marvin Ramsey said during Rudas’ preliminary hearing.

Guard’s Testimony

Ramsey testified that he stopped Rudas outside the store and ordered him to surrender, but that Rudas dropped the box of shavers and ran. Ramsey said he caught Rudas, whereupon the man stabbed him and continued to run.

Rudas was then tackled by a second Sears security guard who was also stabbed, according to court testimony.

Store automotive manager Garth Marcus testified that he caught Rudas and backed him against a wall before being stabbed in the abdomen.

The three injured men have recovered.

San Fernando Municipal Judge James E. Satt refused a request by Rudas to lower his bail, which is set at $150,000. Rudas is being held at County Jail.

In arguing against the bail reduction, Smalstig told Satt there is evidence that Rudas regularly sold stolen merchandise to his co-workers at a Van Nuys brewery.

Rudas will be arraigned in San Fernando Superior Court Sept. 4.