Sheik Who Claimed To Own Ferrari That Sped Through Beverly Hills Neighborhood Leaves Country
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) - A Middle Eastern sheik who claimed to own a Ferrari caught on video zooming through a Beverly Hills neighborhood apparently has raced out of town, police said Thursday.
Khalid bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar has left the country and the cars are gone, authorities said at a news conference.
Al Thani owns a drag-racing team and is a member of the ruling family of oil- and gas-rich Qatar.
The bright yellow, 12-cylinder LaFerrari, which can sell for around $1.4 million new, was spotted along with a white Porsche zooming down narrow streets and blowing through stop signs on Saturday evening until they finally pulled into a driveway, the Ferrari's engine smoking.
Officers answering reports of reckless driving found both cars parked in a driveway. A man told the officers that the cars belonged to him and denied speeding or driving recklessly, police said.
The man claimed to have diplomatic immunity, but that is unlikely, Lt. Lincoln Hoshino said.
Police Chief Dominick Rivetti said the Ferrari was connected to Al Thani. However, Hoshino said investigators have not confirmed whether he actually was driving either car.
"The drivers weren't visible on the videos or photographs," and investigators were unable to find anyone who was willing to identify the drivers, Hoshino said.
"What I do know is you can't claim diplomatic immunity if you don't have it, and you can't use that as an excuse to jeopardize the public or commit crimes," Rivetti said.
Police will continue investigating, and if the drivers are identified they could be charged with reckless driving, Rivetti said.
The city also has passed along its outrage over the incident to the Qatari consulate via the U.S. Department of State, the chief said.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.