Vancouver police officer charged with assault in shoplifting use-of-force incident

A Vancouver police officer was charged Tuesday with fourth-degree assault after being captured on video pulling down the pants of a man suspected of shoplifting. Video also captured the officer threatening to use a Taser on the man’s genitals.

The officer is Andrea Mendoza, 38, who has worked for the Vancouver Police Department for about six years, according to police spokeswoman Kim Kapp. Mendoza is currently assigned to patrol. She remains on paid leave while the criminal case and an internal investigation continue.

Vancouver police released a video summary of the May 21 incident, including body-worn camera footage and store surveillance video.

“The actions of the officer who deployed the Taser in the video are disturbing,” Vancouver Police Chief Jeff Mori said in a Thursday news release. “I want to emphasize to the community that my expectation is that at all times our personnel serve the public with professionalism, compassion and respect.”

All use-of-force incidents are reviewed by supervisors, the police department said, and on May 24, Mendoza’s supervisor notified the chief. She was subsequently placed on leave, the police news release states.

The police department opened an internal investigation and referred the case to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office for independent review.

On July 20, the sheriff’s office forwarded its investigation to the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for review. The prosecutor’s office filed the charge Tuesday, according to the police news release.

Mendoza is scheduled to appear on a summons Aug. 11 in Clark County District Court, court records show.

At 9:44 p.m. May 21, Mendoza and Officer Gabriel Patterson responded to the Walmart at 221 N.E. 104th Ave., in central Vancouver. Loss prevention employees requested officers trespass a Black man and Black woman, who they said they saw conceal merchandise and leave without paying, according to a probable cause affidavit.

When they arrived, the officers approached two people who matched the pair’s description and told them they weren’t free to leave, the police news release states. One officer grabbed a man, whom they identified as 19-year-old Elijah Guffey-Prejean, and the woman with him ran away, according to the affidavit.

The two officers and Guffey-Prejean can be seen in the video going to the ground, with Guffey-Prejean on his back. Patterson can be seen cutting Guffey-Prejean’s backpack straps.

The officers then told him to roll over, and Guffey-Prejean did so before getting up to run, the affidavit states. The news release states he punched one officer in the face and kicked the other in the chest as he fled. Patterson is later seen in the video rubbing his face.

The video shows the officers grappling with Guffey-Prejean before Patterson takes him back to the ground on his stomach.

Mendoza can be seen using her Taser on Guffey-Prejean’s back, and he’s heard groaning before eventually saying, “I’m done.”

Then, Mendoza can be seen pulling Guffey-Prejean’s pants down and putting the Taser against his buttocks.

Guffey-Prejean is seen rolling onto his back, and Mendoza presses the Taser to his genitals. At one point, the officer tells him she will use the stun gun on his genitals if he doesn’t stop. Guffey-Prejean can be heard repeating, “I’m done.”

Investigators determined Mendoza held the Taser to Guffey-Prejean’s genitals for 24 seconds, court records state.

Patterson can be seen putting handcuffs on Guffey-Prejean, who’s heard asking the officer to pull up his pants; Mendoza does so.

Guffey-Prejean was treated at an area hospital before he was booked into the Clark County Jail on suspicion of third-degree assault and third-degree theft, according to Vancouver police.

Mendoza declined to be interviewed by investigators, according to the affidavit.

During a police interview, Guffey-Prejean allegedly admitted to resisting officers’ attempts to arrest him. He said he felt violated when the officer exposed his genitals, according to court records.

Investigators said the officers recovered $103.38 worth of merchandise from Guffey-Prejean, the affidavit states.