In a verdict that has stirred some controversy, Vancouver Police Officer Andrea Mendoza was acquitted of a fourth-degree assault charge. The jury concluded that Mendoza, who drew public scrutiny for threatening to use a Taser on a suspect's genitals, acted within her rights in an encounter with 19-year-old shoplifting suspect Elijah Guffey-Prejean.
The contentious incident, captured on bodycam footage, occurred in May 2023 when Guffey-Prejean was apprehended for stealing candy bars from a Walmart. During the arrest, the suspect punched one officer in the face and another in the chest. Subsequently, Mendoza deployed a Taser on the suspect's back and then threatened to use the Taser on his genitals, as reported by KOIN. The jury arrived at an acquittal after nearly five hours of deliberation, according to a report from The Columbian newspaper.
During the trial, Mendoza testified that she intended to resolve the ongoing conflict, stating, "It was going on long enough, to control the situation," as she told KGW. Her defense argued that an officer is permitted to use force when deemed necessary, especially when confronted with a resisting suspect. The defense also highlighted that Mendoza did not use lethal force nor inflict any injuries during the altercation.
Guffey-Prejean had admitted to shoplifting candy bars and agreed with the defense's assertion that he was actively resisting arrest. Mendoza's attorney, John Terry, expressed his satisfaction with the jury's decision, telling OPB, "As long as the jury heard the facts and saw the video, I was confident they would not find her guilty." Clark County Prosecutor Tony Golik, whose office had charged Mendoza last summer, did not respond to requests for comment on the case's outcome.
There has been disquiet among some observers, with Mendoza’s acquittal being labeled as a bid to curry favor with those critical of police. According to OPB, Anaya, not further identified, criticized the prosecutor's actions as a "political maneuver." Mendoza, who joined the Vancouver Police Department in 2016, remains on paid administrative leave as her department resumes its internal affairs investigation, Vancouver police spokeswoman Kim Kapp shared, as captured by OPB.
