Overview
- A federal grand jury returned the indictment Thursday, charging Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez with two counts of assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon and one count of destroying government property, offenses that carry statutory maximums of up to 20 years per assault count and up to 10 years for the property charge.
- Prosecutors say he refused commands during an April 7 stop near Interstate 5 in Patterson, struck an agent with his car, reversed into a federal vehicle, and then drove toward officers before they fired.
- His attorney and a witness say agents shot first and contend he moved the car only after being hit, and muted dashcam video of the stop leaves the firing sequence unresolved.
- After several surgeries, the FBI took him into custody on April 13, a judge ordered him detained on April 20 as a flight risk, and an arraignment is set for Monday before U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd.
- The FBI continues to investigate the shooting, and ICE’s claim that he is an 18th Street gang member wanted in El Salvador is disputed by his lawyer and not referenced in the indictment.