Drake Man Arrested for Kidnapping, Attempted Murder

Thanks to the help of a vigilant citizen, a Drake resident was arrested on Thursday, after kidnapping and attempting to murder a 16-year-old female.

At approximately 12:23 p.m. on July 15, the Larimer County Sheriff's Office Communications Center received an emergency request for law enforcement's assistance. The request came via radio broadcast, from a volunteer firefighter at the Glen Haven Fire Station, located at 7320 County Road 43. The report that was provided to the firefighter came from an eyewitness who saw a frightening incident unfold nearby.

The witness originally noticed a black Chevy sedan parked in the middle of County Road 43. A male and female were reportedly standing behind the vehicle, and it appeared that the female was in distress. The young woman was also yelling for help.

The passerby slowed his vehicle and pulled up near the parked Chevy. When the witness approached the female, she ran to him and got inside his vehicle. The witness then immediately drove to the fire station for additional help.

While the female and the witness were at the Glen Haven Fire Station, the male suspect arrived at the same location and intentionally crashed the black Chevy into the witness's vehicle.

The suspect then physically took the female from the vehicle and proceeded to violently assault her. The good Samaritan intervened the attack and was able to restrain the suspect until he was detained by an LCSO deputy. The deputy had been enroute when the original call was dispatched.

At this point, members of the LCSO Investigations Division, Crime Lab, and Strategic Enforcement Unit organized a response and took over the investigation.

The suspect was identified as 39-year-old Jacobo Wright Mendoza of Drake, Colorado. The investigation revealed that the female victim and Mendoza knew each other prior to the incident.

Mendoza was transported to Estes Park for medical evaluation and the 16-year-old victim was transported to a hospital in Loveland with serious injuries.

Mendoza was arrested and booked into the Larimer County Jail on the following allegations:

Murder in the First Degree (Attempted), Class 2 Felony

Second Degree Kidnapping-Victim Sex Assault, Class 2 Felony

Unlawful Sexual Contact by the Use of Force, Class 4 Felony

Assault in the Second Degree (Attempted), Class 4 Felony x two counts.

The sheriff's office explained that this is a complex and ongoing investigation, and there is still a substantial amount of follow up that is needed.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Larimer County Sheriff’s Office at 970-416-1985 or Crime Stoppers at 970-221-6868 where you will remain anonymous and possibly be eligible for a cash reward.

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