Kidnap Suspect Arrested in Mission Area NR22194ma

Los Angeles: On July 6, 2022 around 8:00 a.m. a thirteen-year-old male victim was riding his bicycle in the area of Van Nuys Boulevard and Tupper Street. The victim was struck by the suspect’s vehicle, a 2019 dark gray Toyota Tundra pickup truck. The suspect, 38-year-old Ottoniel Mendoza, exited the truck and approached the victim. He showed the victim a badge and told the victim he was a police officer and directed the victim to get into his truck. The victim followed the direction of the suspect and got into the suspect’s truck.

A witness to the collision followed the suspect’s truck with the victim inside and contacted the police. From the information the witness relayed, LAPD Mission Area officers located the suspect’s vehicle in the area of Sepulveda Boulevard and Tupper Street. The suspect and an additional adult male, along with the victim were in the truck at time of the investigative stop.

The victim was transported to a local hospital for medical attention for minor injuries received when the suspect truck struck the victim on his bike.

Both the suspect and the male passenger were detained and interviewed. The suspect was booked for Kidnapping, California Penal Code Section 207. The second adult was interviewed and was not booked.

In an attempt to identify additional unidentified victims, detectives are releasing the suspect’s photo.

Suspect vehicle

Anyone with information about this incident are asked to contact Mission Area Detective Bryce Kirk at (818)838-9810. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may also visit www.lapdonline.org, and click on “Anonymous Web Tips” under the “Get Involved-Crime Stoppers” menu to submit an online tip. Lastly, tipsters may also download the “P3 Tips” mobile application and select the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.