Full Notification

Today, at approximately 10:14 AM, Petaluma PD officers were dispatched to a report of two subjects found bleeding inside a vehicle at the Best Western Hotel.   When the officers arrived three subjects ran from a parked vehicle towards the officers.  Two of the subjects were bleeding profusely from their face area.  Officers detained all the subjects and attempted to determine what had occurred.  Officers ultimately identified two of the subjects as victims.  The victims said they had arrived at the hotel to pick up a friend who was staying in one of the rooms.  As they were sitting in their vehicle, a subject, parked his vehicle behind theirs and blocked their movement.  The subject, later identified as a Kyler Udell a 27-year-old male from Fairfield, approached them and accused them of coming from his hotel room. Suspect Udell then entered their vehicle and struck both victims’ subsequently knocking one victim unconscious and the breaking the nose of the second victim.  It appears that Suspect Udell may have held both victims inside their vehicle for almost an hour while he assaulted them, took their cellphones, and demanded they open the contents of their phones to him.  A hotel employee checking the parking lot saw the victims in the backseat of the vehicle and called 911.  Officers determined the victims were visiting from Sweden and were in fact at the hotel to pick up a friend. Neither victim knew Suspect 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.   He also stated that people were drugging him.  Suspect Udell was arrested for robbery, false imprisonment, and battery resulting in a serious injury.  Both victims were transported to Petaluma Valley Hospital.  The victim’s friend was eventually located and verified their version of the incident.  Suspect Udell was transported to the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility. 
 
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.
                                                                                                          
Media inquiries may be directed to Lt. Tim Lyons at [email protected] or phone 707-778-4372.