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El Cajon PD Press Releases>
Arrest of Rape Suspect
April 2, 2008
TYPE OF INCIDENT: Arrest of Rape Suspect
DATE AND TIME OCCURRED: 4-1-08
LOCATION OF OCCURRENCE: 2900 Block of Jamacha, Rancho San
Diego
BUSINESS NAME: NA
SUSPECT: Israel Mendez, 2-7-83
SUSPECT DESCRIPTION:
RESUME OF INCIDENT:
On 3-27-08 a female was kidnapped from the 1200 block of E.
Main Street in El Cajon, taken to a secluded area and
sexually assaulted. Later that night, an El Cajon Police
Officer stopped a green Thunderbird matching the
description of the vehicle used in the kidnapping. The
driver of the vehicle matched the description of the
suspect. The victim was brought to the location of the
traffic stop and positively identified the person stopped,
Jesse John Garcia, 4/4/78, as the person who had assaulted
her. He was arrested for the crime as well as an
outstanding no-bail warrant.
On 4-1-08, detectives and evidence technicians processed
the vehicle for evidence. While processing the vehicle, it
was determined that, while there were many similarities
between this vehicle and the suspect vehicle, this was most
likely not the vehicle used in the crime. The Deputy
District Attorney assigned to the case was notified of this
information, and arrangements were made to drop the charges
against Garcia for this incident. Garcia remains in
custody for unrelated charges.
On the evening of 4-1-08, off-duty California Department of
Justice Special Agent Barb Shakowski, who had knowledge of
the case, saw a green Thunderbird parked in a parking lot
in the 2900 block of Jamacha Road in Rancho San Diego.
S.A. Shakowski saw items in the car that had been described
in detail by the victim. El Cajon Police detectives
responded to the area and began watching the vehicle. A
male matching the description of the suspect in the sexual
assault on 3-27-08 went to the vehicle and was detained by
detectives. The vehicle was searched and additional
evidence was located. Based on the investigation, the male,
Israel Mendez, 2-7-83, was taken into custody for the
kidnapping and sexual assault. Mendez was booked into
county jail on charges of Kidnapping with the Intent to
Rape, Rape and additional felony charges.
PREPARED BY: Lt. Tim Henton
DIVISION: Investigations
DATE AND TIME: 4-2-08, 0945 Hours
REVIEWED BY: Capt. D. Setzer
Pat Sprecco, Chief Of Police
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