The brother of Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua was among two men arrested over the weekend. Authorities said a BMW SUV linked to Lakers forward Adou Thiero was taken without his consent and later traced to a high-end hotel in West Hollywood, according to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and local reports.
Officials identified the suspects as 27-year-old Samson Nacua and 27-year-old Trey Rose, both of whom were detained and booked on suspicion of taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent. NBC4 Los Angeles reported that the pair remained in custody as of early Monday, though deputies clarified that the investigation is still unfolding and that a final charging decision has not yet been made.
Authorities said officers responded after the SUV’s location was electronically tracked to the 1 Hotel on Sunset Boulevard. Security staff contacted police once the vehicle appeared on their property. Surveillance footage showed two individuals entering the premises after valet service. Deputies emphasized that investigators had not yet determined whether the vehicle was definitively stolen. They told NBC4 it remained “uncertain whether the car was stolen” pending review of additional evidence.
Rose and Nacua were taken into custody shortly after the footage was reviewed, and detectives said they were sorting through timelines provided by hotel workers, valet staff, and the vehicle’s owner. “The investigation is active and ongoing,” deputies said in a written statement, offering no further clarification on how the men initially accessed Thiero’s vehicle or how long they had possession of it before being located.
The arrest marks another high-profile incident for Samson Nacua, who has spent the past several years trying to secure a long-term professional football career after playing collegiately at Utah and BYU. Nacua most recently played in the USFL and UFL, where he appeared in seven games for the Michigan Panthers last season, tallying 11 receptions for 124 yards as the franchise reached the league’s championship. He also had brief offseason stints with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022 and the New Orleans Saints in 2024, but did not make a final roster either year.
Thiero, meanwhile, is in his rookie season after being drafted in the second round by Brooklyn. He was later rerouted to Los Angeles in the seven-team Kevin Durant trade this summer. The 19-year-old forward has played limited minutes for the Lakers, averaging 1.1 points across nine appearances as the team manages a crowded rotation.
The weekend arrest also coincides with an unusual media moment for the Nacua family. Puka Nacua made headlines for criticizing NFL officiating during a livestream with content creator Adin Ross. In a conversation following Rams practice, the second-year receiver alleged some referees “want to be on TV too.” He suggested officials occasionally make questionable calls to appear on broadcasts. “The refs are the worst. These guys are lawyers,” Nacua said during the stream. “You don’t think he’s texting his friends… ‘Yo, you guys just saw me on ‘Sunday Night Football’… that wasn’t pass interference, but I called it.’”
Ross responded by offering to pay any fine the league might issue. The NFL has not commented on the remarks. The Rams, 11-3 entering their upcoming “Thursday Night Football” matchup with Seattle, have relied heavily on Nacua. He has amassed 102 receptions for 1,367 yards and six touchdowns, continuing his ascent as one of the league’s most productive wideouts.
Law enforcement said more details about Samson Nacua and Rose will be released as the investigation develops. Thiero has not publicly commented, nor have the Lakers.
