A Santa Cruz man was bound over by a magistrate judge on charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and battery, after he allegedly tried to run a man down with his car, in a fight over a woman.
Prosecutors charged Jericho Mendoza, 21, with an additional count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon when it was bound over to Tierra Amarilla District Court on May 5.
He was initially released following his Jan. 18 arrest and remained out of jail following his May 19 arraignment.
Española Police Officer Dustin LeNeve wrote in a statement of probable cause for Mendoza’s arrest that around 3:45 a.m. Jan. 18, he was sent to 1313 Paseo de Oñate for a man being chased by a gray Toyota 4Runner.
The alleged victim flagged down the officer and said the vehicle was trying to run him over. The SUV passed the officer, who pulled it over. The driver, later identified as Mendoza, appeared to be nervous, evidenced by shaky hands, which LeNeve wrote appeared to be signs of impairment.
“At first, Jericho had stated that he did not know the male who had called in the incident, however, after a few moments he stated he knew the other male, to which Jericho made the comment that (he) was hanging out with his ‘girlfriend,’ “ LeNeve wrote.
Mendoza allegedly told the officer he fought with the man earlier in the night “regarding the girlfriend,” he wrote.
Witnesses, whom LeNeve did not name in the report, told him that Mendoza allegedly followed them to the house on Paseo de Oñate and when they got out of the car, Mendoza pulled into the driveway and began chasing the victim, who was on foot, with his vehicle, driving through a white wooden fence and back onto Paseo de Oñate, then drove at him again. The man called 911, LeNeve wrote.
The victim had abrasions on his chin and Mendoza allegedly admitted to drinking earlier in the night with the man he tried to run over, LeNeve wrote.
Jury selection in the case is set for Nov. 9.