Contradicting official reports from federal authorities, a defense attorney for a man shot by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Central California is challenging the narrative of the confrontation. The dispute centers on whether Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez attempted to use his vehicle as a weapon and the validity of his alleged criminal history in El Salvador.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) initially reported that agents fired in self-defense during an enforcement stop in Patterson, located approximately 75 miles southeast of San Francisco. According to federal officials, the 36-year-old Mendoza Hernandez was a suspected gang member wanted for a murder in El Salvador. However, new evidence and statements from the defense suggest a significantly different sequence of events.
Disputed Claims and Legal Status
Attorney Patrick Kolasinski, representing Mendoza and his family, asserts that his client has no criminal record within the United States beyond minor traffic violations. Contrary to the claims of federal agents, Kolasinski provided documentation indicating that Mendoza was actually acquitted of murder charges in El Salvador in 2019. A court document dated October 25, 2019, confirms the acquittal and ordered his immediate release.
While the Salvadoran court documents identified other individuals as members of the 18th Street Gang, Mendoza was not among them. Kolasinski emphasized that if a court released his client without further holds, there should be no active arrest warrant. He further noted that he has found no evidence linking Mendoza to any street gang, though he is still waiting to speak directly with his client to confirm specific details.
Mendoza’s fiancée, Cindy, described him as a hardworking laborer who specializes in fire damage restoration. A dual citizen of Mexico and El Salvador, Mendoza has resided in the U.S. since 2019 and is the father of a 2-year-old daughter. While his exact legal entry method remains under review by his legal team, his family maintains he has lived a quiet, industrious life since arriving in the country.
Analysis of Dashcam Evidence
Central to the investigation is dashcam footage obtained by KCRA-TV. The video shows three officers surrounding Mendoza’s vehicle. As the car reverses and strikes a vehicle behind it, one officer is seen touching the driver’s side window. Two agents are observed with weapons drawn. As Mendoza pulls forward and steers over a roadway median, the video shows him turning away from the officers.
Kolasinski argues the footage demonstrates that Mendoza was attempting to evade the encounter rather than strike the officers. “The video shows him actively trying to not run them over,” Kolasinski stated, suggesting the driver panicked under the pressure of drawn firearms. Conversely, DHS maintains that the agents involved acted according to their training protocols.
Transparency and Investigative Oversight
The incident has raised concerns regarding the transparency of federal immigration enforcement. As of late Wednesday, Mendoza’s family had not been granted access to see him in the hospital. While a social worker reported him to be in stable condition, his specific injuries remain undisclosed. Kolasinski criticized the tactical approach taken by the agents, suggesting that opening a car door as a driver attempts to flee creates an unnecessary hazard for everyone involved.
The FBI has taken the lead in the investigation, as the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office confirmed they had no involvement in the operation. This case joins a growing list of controversial shootings involving federal immigration officials, fueling a national debate over oversight and the use of force during detention and deportation efforts.
Lake Erie Times is committed to providing in-depth coverage of issues affecting our national landscape and their implications for the Western New York community. This report includes information sourced from the Associated Press.
