Uber Driver Kidnaps 4 Passengers in Santa Monica, Police Pursuit to Montana Follows

The ghouls and goblins were not the only one's threatening Santa Monica revelers on Halloween. The Uber drivers were pretty bad, too.

Wednesday at about 6:43 p.m. the SMPD responded to a radio call for service in the area of 23rd Street and Santa Monica Blvd. A woman called 911 and said that her Uber driver refused to stop and let her out of the vehicle.

Three other passengers called 911 reporting similar accounts involving the same vehicle. The victims involved were unharmed and reported the suspect was possibly armed with a handgun and threatened to kidnap the victims.

Officers found the Uber and gave chase, trying to stop the car, The vehicle did not stop and fled from officers with the 4 victims in the car. A vehicle pursuit began and an LAPD helicopter assisted the SMPD.

During the pursuit, both passengers/victims were able to jump out of the moving vehicle, suffering minor injuries. The suspect was ultimately taken into custody in the area of Montana Avenue and Bundy Drive. The Santa Monica Fire Department Paramedics responded to the scene and treated the victims who suffered minor injuries, scrapes and bruises.

The Uber driver was later identified as Kaled Elasyedsa Ali, 35, of Anaheim. He was charged with 4 counts of kidnapping.

Press release:

On October 31, 2018 at about 6:43 p.m., the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) responded to a radio call for service in the area of 23rd Street and Santa Monica Blvd. regarding a female victim stating an Uber driver was refusing to stop and let her out of the vehicle.

While responding to this call, three additional 9-1-1 calls were received reporting similar accounts of an Uber driver, possibly involving the same vehicle and suspect. All of those victims involved were able to exit the vehicle unharmed; and reported that the suspect may have been armed with a handgun and had threatened to kidnap the victims.

Shortly thereafter, officers located the vehicle in the area and attempted an enforcement stop. The vehicle failed to stop and fled from officers, with two passengers, a male and female, inside the car. A vehicle pursuit ensued and assistance was requested from the Los Angeles Police Department Air Support. During the pursuit, both passengers/victims were able to jump out of the moving vehicle, suffering minor injuries. The suspect was ultimately taken into custody in the area of Montana Avenue and Bundy Drive.

The Santa Monica Fire Department Paramedics responded to the scene and treated the victims who suffered minor injuries, scrapes and bruises.

The suspect is identified as 35 year-old Kaled Elasyedsa ALI from Anaheim, CA. Ali has been booked for 207(a) PC – Kidnapping; and 2800.2(a) CVC– Felony Evading Arrest. Ali remains in custody at SMPD Jail with a bail of $100,000.00 pending future court proceedings. The case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office-Airport Division Courthouse for filing consideration.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call Detective Goodwin at (310) 458-8942; or the Santa Monica Police Department at (310) 458-8491.