Man Who Shot at Vegas Cops Had Kidnapped, Bound, and Sexually Assaulted Prostitute, Prosecutors Reveal

The man who led Las Vegas cops on a Friday night chase before crashing his vehicle in a casino parking lot before shooting at an officer had abducted and sexually assaulted a sex worker hours before the shooting, authorities said.

Jaime Mendoza appears in court, pictured above. He kidnapped a prostitute, sexually assaulted her, led police on a high-speed chase, and shot at an LVMPD officer, police said. (Image: KSNV)

The November 29 incident began when the suspect, , 54, forced the unnamed prostitute into his car after threatening her with a firearm, prosecutors announced in court this week.

Threatened With Large Knife

Once in the vehicle, Mendoza again threatened the woman, this time with a foot-long hunting knife, according to authorities. He also allegedly bound her hands and feet with a rope.

In the car, believed to be a Toyota RAV4, was a rope “hanging from both sides of the vehicle” to “prevent her from lunging at Mendoza while he drove,” prosecutors said.

Mendoza then proceeded to his Sunrise Manor, Nevada residence where he ordered the woman into a bedroom and threatened to kill her, police said.

After forcing her to have sex, he ordered the woman into his car and drove her back to her vehicle, where the abduction began, police said. Once free, the sex worker alerted the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD).

Suspect Was Victim s Regular Customer

When speaking to an officer, she described Mendoza as a “regular customer” of hers for more than a year. She added that typically she would meet him twice a week. She said they were to have a “prostitution date” on Friday night, according to Las Vegas TV station KLAS.

After speaking with the victim, officers soon spotted Mendoza driving his car and tried to stop the Toyota before Mendoza sped away. A short time later, officers again saw the car and began to pursue Mendoza at what police described as a “high rate of speed.” He eventually lost control of the Toyota and crashed it into a palm tree near a parking lot at an unnamed North Las Vegas casino.

He jumped out of his car and began to run before allegedly firing a shot at LVMPD officers who were running after him.

One officer, Marcos Gomez, returned fire and wounded Mendoza in the hip. Even with the injury, Mendoza again eluded police and disappeared. He allegedly discarded a gun outside of a North Las Vegas church.

LVMPD officers then began an extensive manhunt and warned the public that Mendoza should be considered “.”

On Sunday, he was located at a relative’s residence on Linn Lane and arrested.

Because of his wounds, Mendoza was taken to . After treatment, he was booked at the , where he remains in custody as of Friday morning.

Prosecutors also revealed that Mendoza had placed some kind of GPS device on the sex worker’s car before the abduction.

The sex worker appears not to have suffered significant physical injuries during the ordeal and no officers were injured during the chase or exchange of gunfire.

Held Without Bail

On Wednesday, Clark County Justice Court Judge Nadia Wood ordered Mendoza to be held without bail.

Prosecutors originally asked for bail of $1M after describing him as a flight risk and arguing that he posed a risk to the public, according to Las Vegas TV station KSNV.

Mendoza is charged with attempted murder of a first responder, resisting a public officer with a firearm, aggravated stalking, burglary of a vehicle, kidnapping, disobeying a peace officer, and sexual assault.

Among the evidence prosecutors have is the firearm Mendoza allegedly tossed onto the church grounds.

Mendoza’s next court appearance is on Monday. It’s possible bail could be set at that time. He also will return to court in January for a preliminary hearing.

Last Friday s shooting was the 14th so far this year in the LVMPD’s jurisdiction.