Ex-LAPD Officer Charged In Violent Home Invasion And Kidnapping For Ransom

LOS ANGELES, CA — An ex-Los Angeles Police Department officer is facing criminal charges in connection with a violent home invasion and kidnapping for ransom in Koreatown last year, according to county prosecutors.

The former officer and Porter Ranch resident Eric Halem, 38, has been charged with kidnapping for ransom, first-degree residential robbery, and home invasion robbery in concert, according to the Los Angeles County Prosecutor's Office. The 38-year-old, who is being held without bail, pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on Monday.

Prosecutors say Halem and a co-conspirator, during the early hours of Dec. 28, 2024, went to a Koreatown apartment and handcuffed two people, according to prosecutors. They then stole money from the victims' cryptocurrency account, along with cash and jewelry, before leaving, authorities allege.

Two other co-conspirators, meanwhile, waited outside, serving as the getaway drivers, according to prosecutors.

“Whether you once wore a badge and served in law enforcement, or not, if you take part in violent crimes, you will be held fully accountable,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said in a statement Monday. “This office will pursue justice for victims without fear or favor. We will prosecute those who use violence and intimidation to profit from the suffering of others and ensure they answer for their criminal actions.”

Halem is also currently involved in a separate insurance fraud case, according to the California Department of Insurance.

The California Department of Insurance said it began its investigation after receiving a fraud referral alleging that Halem falsely reported that his brother, Jacob, now 33, of Tarzana, borrowed a 2020 Bentley Continental GT and was involved in a solo-vehicle crash on Jan. 5, 2023.

But an investigation determined that the luxury vehicle had been rented out through Eric Halem's exotic car rental company, Drive LA, and had been involved in a collision three days earlier, with Eric Halem allegedly filing a fraudulent claim with his insurance company on his personal policy upon learning that the rental driver's insurance claim had been denied, according to the Department of Insurance.

Investigators discovered that damage in photos submitted in connection with the claim was identical to damage captured in body-worn camera footage from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department on Jan. 2, 2023, before the vehicle was impounded, and Jacob Halem allegedly provided a false statement to an insurance company investigator, according to the Department of Insurance.

The total potential loss from the allegedly fraudulent claim was more than $229,000, authorities said.

The Department of Insurance described Eric Halem as a former LAPD officer and a then-current LAPD reserve officer. The LAPD says he was removed from his position and all of his equipment was collected in March.

Jacob Halem is facing one count of insurance fraud in that case.

City News Service contributed to this report.