An Uber driver was charged today with kidnapping four passengers on Halloween and leading Santa Monica police in a pursuit, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.
Khaled Elsayedsa Ali (dob 6/17/83) of Garden Grove faces four counts of kidnapping and one count of fleeing a pursuing peace officer’s motor vehicle while driving recklessly, all felonies.
Arraignment for case SA099306 was scheduled today but was continued to Nov. 5 in Department W30 of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Airport Branch.
On Oct. 31, Ali reportedly picked up a man requesting a ride, but drove in the opposite direction and refused to let him leave until the man jumped out of the car, prosecutors said. The defendant then allegedly picked up a woman requesting a ride and also drove away from her destination until she also jumped out of the vehicle, prosecutors added.
Ali is charged with then picking up two passengers and refusing to let them leave as he led police on a pursuit through Santa Monica. Both victims reportedly jumped out of the vehicle before police eventually arrested the defendant, prosecutors said.
Bail is scheduled at $475,000. If convicted as charged, Ali faces a possible maximum sentence of more than 23 years in state prison.
The case remains under investigation by the Santa Monica Police Department.
