MAN ARRESTED AFTER REPORTEDLY SHOOTING AT STRIPPER 21-YEAR-OLD ALLEGEDLY WANTED MORE THAN LAP DANCE FOR $150.

Byline: Lisa Van Proyen Staff Writer

VAN NUYS - An exotic dancer and her escort narrowly escaped bullets Wednesday that were fired at them on the 101 Freeway by a disgruntled customer, police said.

The couple called 911 on their cell phone and officers arrested Steve Iskenderian, 21, at his home in Glendale on suspicion of attempted murder, police said.

``This guy shoots five rounds, hitting the car four times,'' said Los Angeles police Detective Dan O'Hanian of the Van Nuys Division. ``It's incredible that nobody was hurt. The freeway was not empty.''

The confrontation began at a Sepulveda Boulevard motel in Van Nuys where striptease dancer Vanessa Cortez, 42, had gone with Iskenderian to perform a lap dance for $150, police said. He wanted his money back when she refused to have sex with him, police said.

Cortez left the motel about 12:30 a.m. with her escort, Curtis James Morris, 38, of Anaheim, police said.

Driving a 2000 Mercedes-Benz, Iskenderian chased the couple driving a 1995 Toyota 4Runner, and began firing rounds just east of Sepulveda Boulevard on the 101 Freeway, said LAPD Officer Charles Rodriguez.

Morris ducked as one shot went through the window and hit the headrest, narrowly missing him, O'Hanian said. ``He's watching the muzzle flash. He told her to get down. She laid flat back in a reclining position,'' the detective said.

Two rounds went inside the vehicle. Another two hit outside the vehicle, one near the gas tank.

Officers went to the motel and found evidence that led them to the suspect's Glendale house, Rodriguez said. Police said they retrieved a handgun from the Mercedes.

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Map: VAN NUYS. CARS EASTBOUND ON THE VENTURA (101) FREEWAY AT 12:30 A.M. WEDNESDAY