GLEN HAVEN, Colo. (KDVR) — A good Samaritan is credited with saving a teenage girl from a brutal attack in the middle of the street.
Jacobo Wright Mendoza, 39, is accused of kidnapping, sex assault and attempted first-degree murder in the incident.
At the Glen Haven General Store on Friday, owner Becky Childs said the community is anxiously waiting to find out who the good Samaritan is.
“Everybody wants to know all the details,” Childs said. “I would love to know his name.”
Childs said people in Glen Haven are used to natural disasters, but crime like this is unusual.
“It’s a community of people who like it all quiet, that’s why we’re all here, so this kind of thing is not acceptable.”
What happened in Glen Haven
It happened on Thursday around 12:23 p.m.
According to the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, the Samaritan reported to police that a man and a girl — later identified as Mendoza and a 16-year-old — were standing outside of a car in the middle of County Road 43, and the girl was yelling for help.
The Samaritan turned around and drove up to the scene, and the girl got in his vehicle. They immediately drove to the fire station for help.
That’s when Mendoza showed up and intentionally crashed into the Samaritan’s vehicle, according to the Sheriff’s Office. He then forced the girl out the vehicle and then “violently” physically assaulted her.
“The good Samaritan intervened and restrained the suspect until he was detained by an LCSO deputy, who was en route and in the immediate area when the original call was dispatched,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a press release.
The girl was transported to a hospital with serious injuries. Mendoza was transported to another hospital for medical evaluation.
A ‘complex’ investigation
Investigators interviewed them both and learned the girl is known to the suspect, but no further details were immediately available.
“This is a complex and ongoing investigation based on the substantial follow up that is needed,” the Sheriff’s Office said.
Mendoza faces the following counts:
- Attempted first-degree murder, Class 2 Felony
- Second-degree kidnapping – victim sex assault, Class 2 Felony
- Unlawful sexual contact by the use of force, Class 4 Felony
- Two counts of attempted second-degree assault, Class 4 Felonies
The Sheriff’s Office encouraged anyone with information in the incident to call them at 970-416-1985 or Crime Stoppers at 970-221-6868, where you will remain anonymous and possibly be eligible for a cash reward.
