Chase Suspect Newport Beach Standoff Faces 17 Felony Charges

An ex-con who allegedly kidnapped his estranged wife and two sons and led police on a televised chase to Newport Beach in a Hummer pleaded not guilty today to 17 felony counts.

Thomas Ueno -- who eluded authorities at the end of the chase Feb. 29 and was arrested the following night in Cerritos -- was ordered to remain jailed in lieu of $3 million bail while awaiting his next appearance April 20 in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Ueno, 35, is charged with three counts each of kidnapping for carjacking, false imprisonment by violence and false imprisonment of a hostage, two counts each of violation of a domestic violence court order with a prior conviction and fleeing a pursuing peace officer's motor vehicle while driving recklessly, and one count each of injuring a spouse after a prior conviction, first-degree burglary with a person present, carjacking and possession of a firearm by a felon.

He has five prior convictions, including two for fleeing from law enforcement officers while driving recklessly in 2003 and 2006, according to the criminal complaint.

Ueno is accused of leading police on a chasethat began just before 4:45 p.m. Feb. 29. Authorities said the Buena Park Police Department was contacted by its counterpart in Huntington Park, which feared a domestic violence situation had developed and was concerned the driver was armed.

Authorities chased the Hummer on streets and freeways, including the Santa Ana (5) Freeway.

The driver stopped at Dover Drive and 16th Street in Newport Beach, and Ueno's estranged wife and two children ran from the vehicle to nearby police officers at about 10 p.m., several hours into the standoff.

Ueno jumped out of the Hummer and fled on foot. He was arrested without incident about 7 p.m. March 1 by Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies and Huntington Park police officers in the 17800 block of Kensington Avenue in Cerritos.

City News Service