Mission cop caught in coke case - Monitor
Mendez is scheduled to be formally charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine at a court hearing set for Monday, said Angela Dodge, a U. S. Attorney’s Office spokeswoman. Dominguez declined to comment on what the federal case into Mendez entails. Mendez was on sick leave for medical reasons when he was arrested, Dominguez said. Mendez is now suspended with pay, the chief said. The chief said he was disappointed a veteran officer — in 2012, Mendez ran for Hidalgo County Precinct 2 constable — would be in this position. It’s not only a black eye for him, but it’s a black eye for our organization. Mission police’s highest-profile corruption scandal in recent years involved Jonathan Treviño, a former investigator and son of then-sheriff Lupe Treviño. Together with fellow investigator Alexis Espinoza, the then-Mission policemen pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges and are in federal prison in what was known as the Panama Unit scandal. Dominguez said he expected all his officers to be responsible to Mission’s citizens. “Obviously,” Dominguez said, “in this case, he was not. Source: www.themonitor.com
