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California City Council members are facing federal charges allegedly arranging an SUV filled with chemical elements that move mercury without proper precautions.
Federal authorities arrested 39-year-old California city Michael Kleikov on charges related to inappropriate transport of dangerous waste and “putting others in imminent danger of death or serious injury.”
The allegations focus on mercury exposure cases that occurred during a car wash in possession. Kulikoff is the mayoral protem of California, located about 100 miles north of Los Angeles.
Kulikoff, released after his arrest, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
California City Mayor Marquette Hawkins issued a statement saying, “The health and safety of our residents has always been our number one priority and we will make these allegations as serious as possible.”
Hawkins emphasized that “all individuals are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in court.”
“We are actively working to ensure that urban operations continue without disruption and that public trust is strong throughout this difficult moment,” Hawkins said. “Any necessary measures to protect the public interest and maintain ethical standards will be taken in accordance with the law.”
According to the indictment, in February 2024, Kulikoff learned that an individual, identified only as “one of people,” spilled a bottle holding several ounces of mercury inside the cabin of the SUV.
Mercury, also known as Quicksilver, is a neurotoxin that can affect the nervous system and kidneys, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Metallic mercury is inhaled, which can lead to trembling, headaches and neuromuscular changes.
After the accusations, the SUV driver attempted to clean the spill using a vacuum cleaner in a Kulikoff car wash.
The individual then drove the SUV to his mother’s house near the school bus stop and called 911 after experiencing symptoms of mercury exposure, according to the accusations.
When city emergency services officials scanned in response to the SUV, authorities said they detected about 20 times the acceptable limit for mercury in the cabin. They shut down the car wash business by putting yellow warning tape around the vehicle for the contaminated vacuum cleaner.
According to the indictment, Kulikoff tried to clean the business himself, but was told by emergency services that it was a dangerous material scene and that it would have to be stopped because it was not safe.
The next day, Kulikoff, a prosecutor’s accusation, returned to the scene and received a quote from an environmental service company to clean up the mercury. He is said to have since sent videos through Facebook to his brother, and the mayor of California.
“So they’re avoiding it now and tape it up, but that motherf – [is] According to the charges, Klikov told his brother.
Later that day, court documents show that emergency services officials left the SUV to respond to a fire that turned out to be a false report. When they returned, the SUV was gone.
Authorities say Klikov will conspire with others to move the contaminated SUV out of the city. He was said to have directed the town of Boron, Kern County, to drive because he wanted it outside of the city of California’s jurisdiction.
An emergency service representative in Kern County found the SUV in the private home that moved it. Drivers who were not identified or charged also complained of symptoms related to mercury exposure.
The environmental services company fixed the SUV and while doing so, it detected high levels of mercury and recovered solid mercury according to the indictment.
If convicted, Kulikoff faces a prison of up to five years and a $250,000 fine for conspiracy to transport hazardous waste, and a $50,000 fine per day in prisons up to 15 years.
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