Bend driver arrested, accused of shooting at people in another car
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A Bend man was arrested Thursday night by police and the Central Oregon Emergency Response Team on attempted assault and other charges, accused of shooting at people in another car in northeast Bend.
Around 6:36 p.m., officers responded to a report of a shooting that had just occurred near Team Kia of Bend on NE Purcell Boulevard, Bend Police Communications Manager Sheila Miller said.
The report indicated someone driving a gray Audi station wagon had shot at the occupants of a Honda passenger car, then fled the scene.
Miller said responding officers found evidence at the scene to confirm a shooting had occurred. They contacted the occupants of the Honda, which was damaged by gunfire, though no one inside the car was injured.
Officers also were able to determine the were able to determine the identity of the station wagon driver, Tyler Jacob Mendoza, 29, of Bend, Miller said.
Mendoza was located by officials at an apartment complex in the 1700 block of SE Tempest Drive in Bend. Officers investigated the location. along with deputies from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. Members of the Central Oregon Emergency Response (CERT) team arrived and eventually took Mendoza into custody around 9:30 p.m.
Mendoza was arrested and booked into the Deschutes County Jail on felony charges of first-degree attempted assault and unlawful use of a weapon. The handgun used in the shooting was later recovered, Miller said.
Miller told KTVZ News on Friday that there were four people in the victim vehicle and two in the suspect's. She had no information to share regarding a possible motive.
Initial formal charges filed Friday against Mendoza included the two felonies, along with three misdemeanor charges of recklessly endangering another person. Mendoza was held without bail pending arraignment Friday afternoon, when bail was set at $100,000, according to jail records. He's scheduled to return to court next Friday for arraignment on an expected formal indictment.
