Man Arrested in Strip Club Murder

Los Angeles: Los Angeles police detectives arrested a man Monday after he cut the throat of a strip club patron.

On Monday, March 5, 2007, at 8:30 PM, officers from West Valley Area responded to an "Ambulance Cutting" radio call at the Exposed Dance Club in the 8200 block of Canoga Avenue, in Canoga Park. The officers were directed inside the club where a man was on the floor bleeding from the neck.

Los Angeles City Fire Department Paramedics transported the victim to Northridge Hospital, where he later died.

Witnesses stated that the victim was seated in the club, talking to a dancer, when the suspect, who was seated directly behind, suddenly rose from his chair. The suspect then pulled a knife and cut the victim’s throat, for no apparent reason. The suspect walked out of the club and drove off in a gray, late-model Audi.

Police responded to the suspect’s address in the 17300 block of Quesan Place, in Encino, and saw the gray Audi parked in front of the address. The suspect, Zachary Todd Balonick, 20, was arrested for murder without incident.

The murder victim was identified as a 26-year-old man from Canoga Park. His identity has not been released, pending notification of his family.

For more information, please contact West Valley Homicide Detectives at 818-374-7721. On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).