SJPD Arrests Suspect for Carjacking, Kidnapping and Robbery

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 

On June 17, 2023 at approximately 12:00 AM, Officer responded to the report of a carjacking and kidnapping that occurred in the 500 block of South Kiely Boulevard. The victim reported that an unidentified suspect approached him while he was sitting in his vehicle and demanded that the victim give him his phone and money. The unidentified suspect told the victim that he was going to kill him multiple times, and suggested he was armed with a knife. The suspect forced the victim into the passenger seat of the vehicle and drove them to a location on Highway 680 near Livermore, where he told the victim to get out. The suspect fled northbound on Highway 680 with the vehicle and additional personal property belonging to the victim. The stolen vehicle was recovered two days later near Modesto by CHP. 

Through an extensive and thorough follow up investigation, Robbery Unit Detectives identified Leie Pomele as the primary suspect responsible. Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for the suspect, and a search warrant for his residence.

On November 16, 2023, the SJPD Covert Response Unit (CRU) took the suspect into custody without incident. Robbery Detectives served a search warrant and located evidence of the crime, and recovered and returned the victim's personal property. The suspect was booked on his warrant that included charges of carjacking, kidnapping, and robbery.

Anyone with information about these cases or similar cases is asked to contact Detective Hernandez #4392 of the San José Police Robbery Unit via email: 4392@sanjoseca.gov or 408-277-4166.

Submit crime tips and remain anonymous by using the P3TIPS mobile app, calling the tip line at (408) 947-STOP, or on www.siliconvalleycrimestoppers.org. If the information you submit leads to an arrest, you are eligible for a cash reward from the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers Program.