S A N TA M O N I C A
REFLECTING THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY smmirror.com
November 2 – 8, 2018 Volume XXI, Issue 16
INSIDE SPORTS: SAMO Football and SMC Men’s Football, Soccer PAGES 10 + 11
Uber Driver Attempts to Kidnap SM Passengers
Suspect leads officers on a chase with passengers in the car Wednesday night. By Sam Catanzaro
Kaled Elasyedsa Ali, a 35-year old Uber driver, attempted to kidnap a female passenger, and five additional victims in Santa Monica Wednesday evening, leading police officers on a chase with two passengers in the car. On Wednesday evening around 6:43 p.m. the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) responded to a call for service near 23rd Street and Santa Monica Blvd, from a female victim saying that her Uber driver was refusing to stop and let her out of the car. While officers were responding to this call, three additional 911 calls were received by the SMPD from multiple victims stating similar incidents. According to the Department, these reports possibly involved the same suspect and vehicle. “All of those victims involved were able to exit the vehicle unharmed; and reported that the sus-
pect may have been armed with a handgun and had threatened to kidnap the victims,” an SMPD press release reads. Officers were able to locate the vehicle and attempted to stop the car. The driver, however, did not obey and fled from officers with two passengers in the car, a male and a female. A vehicle pur-
suit began alongside helicopter air support from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). “During the pursuit, both passengers/victims were able to jump out of the moving vehicle, suffering minor injuries,” the SMPD said. The suspect was ultimately stopped and taken into custody near Montana Avenue and Bundy Drive. Kaled Elasyedsa Ali, the suspect, has been arrested Kidnapping and Felony Evading Arrest. Ali remains in custody at SMPD Jail with a bail of $100,000 pending future court proceedings. Uber told the Santa Monica Mirror that Ali has been taken off the platform and that the company will cooperate with law enforcement authorities. “What’s been described is deeply upsetting. As soon as we became aware of this report, we immediately removed this individual’s access to the platform,” an Uber spokeswoman said. “We will provide any information to the investigating authorities for their ongoing investigation.” The incident occurred the same day Uber released a feature that allows users in Los Angeles to make emergency calls to the city’s emergency system from the Uber app. The feature provides specific location, license plate number and the
make and model of the vehicle directly to the 911 operator. The case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office-Airport Division Courthouse for filing consideration. SMPD Detectives responded and are currently conducting an investigation. Anyone with information is encouraged to call Detective Goodwin at (310) 458-8942, or the Santa Monica Police Department at (310) 458-8491.
Photo: Getty Images.
Wednesday night, an Uber driver in Santa Monica attempted to kidnap multiple passengers.
Oversight Committee for Eric Uller Molestation Investigation Rejected By Sam Catanzaro
The City of Santa Monica has rejected calls for a citizen oversight committee into the investigations into Eric Uller, the City of Santa Monica employee who was arrested on Thursday, October 19 for a series of alleged child molestation incidents that date back to 1986. 50-year-old Uller, Principal Technology Analyst with the City’s Information Systems Department is accused of sexually molesting ten minors between the years 1986 and 2010. Four of the victims were allegedly assaulted while Uller was volunteering with the Santa Monica Police Activities League
ST HIGHE ELP! ON Y RATED
(PAL) in the 1990s. Following Uller’s arrest, Oscar de la Torre, who is on the Santa Monica School Board and runs the Pico Youth and Family Center, accused the City, including high ranking law enforcement officials, of covering up the alleged incidents. In response to these allegations, the City has hired outside counsel to investigate accusations of a cover-up. “The City has retained Irma Rodríguez Moises and Gabriel Sandoval at the law firm of Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo to conduct an independent investigation of allegations that the City previously knew, or should have known, of Mr. Uller’s alleged
TWO FREE SODAS WITH ANY MEDIUM PIZZA
BUY A SLICE GET A FREE DRINK
SaMo Pizza
17TH & Pico
FRESH GREAT TAS ! TING!
Across from Santa Monica College
criminal conduct,” said City in a statement. The calls for a citizen oversight committee into this investigation were rejected by City Officials, including City Attorney Lane Dilig, speaking at a community town hall meeting Tuesday, who urged residents to come forward to officials with relevant information but said that the investigators should remain free to look into the case on their own accord. "Investigators need to be independent in deciding who to interview, what questions to ask, so that they can follow where the facts lead," Dilig said. City Councilmember Sue Himmilrich echoed this sediment, saying that a citizen
oversight committee would violate the privacy of victims and their families. “Victims and families have a right to their privacy. This is a confidential and private investigation,” Himmilrich said, adding that residents' voices would be better served coming up with better policies and preventative measures rather than "overseeing investigations." Uller’s bail has been set to $750,000 and he will appear in court on November 5. This case is ongoing and anyone with information related to this investigation is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’s Department, Special Victims Bureau toll free tip line at (877) 710-5273.
Sweet Home Santa Monica Dan & Charlee Nessel | 310.365.0195 | 310.755.8180 Dan@NesselHomes.com | Charlee@NesselHomes.com | NesselHomes.com
TAX
Lic# 01349526
©2018 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC.
Lic# 01309674
01349526
12/2/2018
Samuel Moses, CPA 100 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica
310.395.9922