BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT
Daily Post Staff Writer
A tow truck driver has escalated his claim that he was targeted by Mayor Ellen Kamei after towing her car from a private parking space in downtown Mountain View.
Felix Salcido, 42, filed an updated version of his lawsuit on Sunday (Jan. 12) with new allegations, including that Kamei contacted a high-ranking police officer late at night, “through (her) own channels and maneuvers” that any other citizen doesn’t have access to.
The high-ranking officer then had Sgt. Chris Goff arrest Salcido for making illegal tows without leaving a paper trail back to Kamei, Salcido’s updated lawsuit said.
“In his police report, Defendant Goff deliberately fails to indicate who provided the notification of the alleged unlawful towing,” the suit said.
Salcido was hired by a property owner to tow cars of non-employees who parked in seven reserved spaces behind 745 Evelyn Ave., the suit said. The illegally parked cars included a Tesla and a car belonging to Kamei and her husband, Christopher Takeuchi, who ignored the “no parking” signs on April 12, 2023, the suit said.
Kamei and Takeuchi were “infuriated” when they went to Ed’s Tow & Cradle to pick up the car, the suit said.
“Call the captain,” Takeuchi told Kamei, according to the lawsuit.
“I looked up that company. That’s not even a real company. You can’t even find them,” Kamei allegedly said, referring to the “Fresh Company Vehicles Only” sign where she parked.
Salcido said he refunded Kamei and Takeuchi for the tow out of fear.
“Salcido was concerned for his safety as he realized just how powerful and connected Kamei and Takeuchi were and how they had indeed reached out to their police connections,” the suit said.
Goff contacted other car owners who had been towed. One of them, Dominic Gluhaich, said he wanted to press charges against Salcido.
Records specialist Alicia Farias allegedly applied for an arrest warrant for Salcido under the penalty of perjury, even though she wasn’t involved in the investigation, the suit said.
Salcido was charged with a felony for making illegal tows on June 20, court records show.
“Salcido was shocked, terrified and confused by the charge,” the suit said.
Goff said that Salcido didn’t have written authorization for towing Gluhaich, violating the state vehicle code.
Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Thang Barrett dismissed the charge at the Palo Alto Courthouse on Aug. 21 due to insufficient evidence, court records show.
Goff withheld his report for 13 months after finishing the investigation and didn’t have another supervisor review the case before sending the report to prosecutors, Salcido’s defense attorney Patrica Fox said.
The report said it was prepared by Goff on April 23, 2023, and approved by Goff on May 12, 2023.
Usually a different supervisor will approve the report, but Goff avoided a fair evaluation, Fox said.
“Similar conduct by other towing companies is not prosecuted as felonies, or at all,” Fox said in a motion.
Salcido said Goff pressured car owners to go after him.
The owner of a Mazda that was towed from the same spot reached out to Salcido by text about Goff, the suit said.
“He gets us to harass you using his authority … We convinced ourselves there was some grey area based on his authority. I feel played and horrible. Sorry again,” the Mazda owner told Salcido, according to the suit.
Kamei “wields considerable influence and power” as a councilwoman, the suit said. She can push forward or stop projects, like a $200 million police station that she has voted to support.
“She directly has and continues to directly impact the budget for the Mountain View Police Department, which impacts salaries, access to equipment, and other items the department and its members hold dear,” the suit said.
Kamei voted on Dec. 10 to dissolve the city’s Public Safety Advisory Board that was created after the death of George Floyd.
The board met monthly with Police Chief Mike Canfield to talk about police issues, starting with the school resource officer program at Mountain View High School.
“We had goals and we achieved them, and it’s time to move on … We have a police department that’s very accessible,” Kamei said.
Kamei was picked as mayor on Tuesday. She was also mayor in 2021.
Kamei has declined an interview, according to city spokeswoman Lenka Wright.
Assistant City Attorney Montague Hung responded to the lawsuit on behalf of Kamei and Goff on Jan. 3. She asked a judge to dismiss the case.
“Mountain View city council members have no individual authority and no authority over police department personnel,” Hung said. “Kamei, like any other private citizen, is entitled to file a police report.”
Goff’s investigation was conducted “in an objectively reasonable manner,” Hung said.
A hearing is scheduled for Feb. 19 with Judge Nathanael Cousins, court records show.
” “Kamei, like any other private citizen, is entitled to file a police report.”” ….hmmm except that there was no police report?
Well said, now I remember her, Kamei “wields considerable influence and power” as a councilwoman, the suit said. She can push forward” and backward, up and down round and round …
She made it to the top, now she’s using her skills in law.
Interesting – First, a private company can not hire tow companies to drive around their lots or wait for for non-customers to park and tow them. The property owner or onsite representative needs to be the one that calls the tow company and sign the paperwork that they towed a private property tow.
But what is also fascinating is dismissal of the public safety advisory board. To just say we are transparent is a statement saying we’ll show you what we want or you don’t even know what to ask. It shows a lack of leadership at both the board level and the police administration level. The Public Safety Board could follow-up on issues that mean things to the residents of Mountain View. Here are some – 1) Traffic Issues, 2) Crowd Safety to prevent a New Orleans incident, 3) Parking Complains – Despite the city councils efforts the to keep the motorhomes moving every 72 hours they’ve failed to do this and give passes to certain people, 4) Do we have enough mechanics to keep police and fire vehicles maintained so we don’t have a Los Angeles Fire Department situation. 5) Have they reviewed and questioned policy? There is probably a bunch of audits that are supposed to to be done. Have they? 6) Budget 7) Are there too many administrators and not enough officers? 7) Have hiring standards been reduced, 8) New building – why has it been underfunded for so long. 9) Have they conducted a staffing study? Why not? 10) why has your social media fallen off the deep end as compared to the last information person? – this is kind of a short list because anyone that is looking at a business or follows media events could keep going.
The public safety board should be like a mini investigative group and they just need to ask the write questions. I am sure they could have found community members that would have been interested.
Kind of bad timing to be honest to be in the news and be the one to dismiss the ones that are supposed to to make sure the public safety is being as they say “transparent.”
The private property parking spaces are the entrance to the building. The tow driver is permitted to remove cars blocking the entrance to the property. This is not public parking.
It is like someone parking a car in your driveway.
Kamei broke the law and then called the police. Then got a refund of the tow fees.
An investigation is needed here to determine if Kamei used her credentials to have this guy arrested. If so, she should be charged criminally. DA Jeff Rosen, are you paying any attention to this?
I totally agree. MV lifer
Give Ellen Kamai a medal, auction off the assets of the tow company and divide between everyone else who was wrongfully towed by them. “Goff said that Salcido didn’t have written authorization for towing Gluhaich, violating the state vehicle code”
Gregory, one little “fact” problem with your comment. The judge threw out the felony charge against Salcido for making illegal tows. What Salcido did was legal. It’s the fault of people who park their car in lots with signs that clearly say they will be towed. Obviously Kamai thought she was above the law. She’s the one who should be criminally charged.
CA CODE 22658: “(l) (1) (A) A towing company shall not remove or commence the removal of a vehicle from private property without first obtaining the written authorization from the property owner or lessee, including an association of a common interest development, or an employee or agent thereof, who shall be present at the time of …”
You need to tell the judge about that. I’m sure he doesn’t understand the law as well as you do. If you give him that information, I’m sure he’ll reverse his decision and put Salcido on trial. Good catch!
Read the whole statute. The private parking spaces are the entrance to the business. It is like someone parking in your driveway.
Kamei broke the law by parking there.
If the other members of council don’t press for an investigation, they’re just as corrupt as she is.