The Friendswood Police Department announced through social media that Sameh Chami, who is subject to an immigration detainer, has been charged with aggravated kidnapping. This charge follows allegations that he ended an Uber ride prematurely and was found with the passenger in a vacant parking lot instead of taking her home.
According to the Houston Chronicle, Friendswood police allege that on June 28, 2025, 49-year-old Chami picked up a woman from Buckshot Saloon in Galveston for an Uber ride to her Friendswood home. The trip reportedly began around 2:50 a.m., but police say Chami ended the ride in the Uber app before arriving at her destination. The victim’s family used the Life360 safety tracking app to locate her and found her in Chami’s vehicle in a vacant parking lot rather than at her residence.
As reported by ABC13 Houston, court documents state that the victim’s family arrived at the parking lot around 3:50 a.m. and confronted Chami, who was still in the vehicle with her. The woman told investigators she had been drinking before calling the Uber and was drifting in and out of sleep during the trip. Police allege that Chami intentionally ended the ride early and did not take her to her intended destination, leading the Galveston County District Attorney’s Office to issue a warrant for his arrest.
According to KPRC 2 Houston, Chami was arrested on July 9, 2025, by Friendswood police and remains in custody at the Galveston County Jail. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) placed a detainer on Chami due to his immigration status, allowing federal agents to assume custody if he is released from local detention. Uber confirmed to KPRC that Chami’s access to the rideshare platform has been permanently revoked and that the company is cooperating fully with investigators.
The Friendswood Police Department serves the city of Friendswood, Texas, which spans both Harris and Galveston counties. According to the City of Friendswood’s official website, the department provides a full range of public safety services, including patrols, investigations, crime prevention programs, and community outreach initiatives. It also works closely with neighboring agencies and federal partners in investigations that cross jurisdictional lines or involve immigration-related matters.
