Man Assaults, Robs Pair From Sweden Outside Petaluma Hotel: Police

PETALUMA, CA — Two people visiting from Sweden were assaulted and held hostage while they waiting in a car for their friend outside a Petaluma hotel, police said.

The incident was reported at 10:15 a.m. Thursday; Petaluma police officers were dispatched to a report of two people found bleeding inside a car at the Best Western Hotel, 200 S. McDowell Blvd.

As officers responded to the hotel, three people ran toward them from a parked car. Two of the people were bleeding profusely from their faces, Petaluma police Lt. Tim Lyons said.

Officers detained all three and tried to determine what took place. Police determined two of the people were victims.

The victims told police they were at the hotel to pick up a friend who was staying in one of the rooms. As they sat in their car, a man parked his car behind theirs and blocked them from moving.

The man, later identified as Kyler Udell, a 27-year-old male from Fairfield, approached them and accused them of coming from his hotel room, Lyons said.

Udell then got into their car and struck both victims, knocking one of them unconscious and breaking the other one's nose, the lieutenant said.

"It appears that Suspect Udell may have held both victims inside their vehicle for almost an hour while he assaulted them, took their cell phones, and demanded they open the contents of their phones to him," Lyons said.

A hotel employee checking the parking lot saw the victims and called 911.

Officers determined the victims were visiting from Sweden and did not know Udell.

"Suspect Udell, who appeared to be delusional and possibly under the influence of a narcotic, accused the victims of coming from his room, where an unknown female was staying," Lyons said. "He also stated that people were drugging him."

Udell was arrested on suspicion of robbery, false imprisonment, and battery resulting in a serious injury.

Both victims were treated at Petaluma Valley Hospital.

Police eventually tracked down the victims' friend, who verified their version of the incident.

Udell was booked into Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility. He remained in custody Friday with his bail set at $250,000, jail records showed.

"The police department wishes to thank the hotel staff for vigilantly checking suspicious vehicles in their parking lot and immediately notifying the police department of the incident," Lyons said.