Body camera footage shows Vancouver Police Department (VPD) Officer Andrea Mendoza allegedly pulling a man’s pants down and threatening to charge a Taser onto his groin in May earlier this year. Mendoza has been placed on leave and charged with assault.
According to a VPD press release, Mendoza and another officer were responding to a shoplifting incident at a Walmart. The officers found a man and a woman matching the descriptions of the shoplifters in the parking lot. Police say the officers informed the man and the woman that they were not free to go, then the woman ran away and was not caught, but the man was taken to the ground before he could run.
Before the man could be handcuffed, police say he punched and kicked the officers, causing an officer to use a Taser on the man’s back. According to the press release, Mendoza allegedly pulled the man’s pants down and threatened to use the Taser on the man’s groin “if he did not stop resisting.” Police say the man complied and was provided medical aid and transported to the hospital before being brought to jail for assault and theft.
Vancouver Police Chief Jeff Mori said the actions during this incident are disturbing.
“I want to emphasize to the community that my expectation is that at all times our personnel serve the public with professionalism, compassion and respect,” Mori said. “Upon review of this incident, the involved officer was placed on administrative leave, an internal investigation was opened, and the case was referred to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office for independent investigation.”
The Sheriff’s Office completed the investigation on July 20 and sent the information to the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for review. The Attorney’s Office filed assault charges on July 25.
VPD says in the press release they are committed to transparency, and says the full incident can be seen on YouTube.
