In a series of concerning events that unfolded at the Copper Beech at San Marcos apartments, a suspect involved in Peeping Tom incidents and a reported sexual assault has been apprehended by San Marcos Police. As detailed in a report by CBS Austin, the suspect, 31-year-old Patrick Mendoza, was captured after police utilized License Plate Reader cameras to track his movements, culminating in a brief chase on foot.
Incidents at the apartment complex, which had been reported by multiple women last week, have sparked fear among residents. In a chilling account, a neighbor, whose identity has been concealed for her safety, told KVUE, "It's honestly terrifying to feel like you can't be in your home at all alone, especially when you're young, when you're in college and you don't know," she shared. Mendoza's presence had been first glimpsed in a video forwarded by a neighbor, showing him peering into a woman's bedroom window.
Following the reports of voyeuristic behavior and assault, police were able to locate Mendoza early Friday morning, finding him hidden in the bushes near the complex. Once detected Mendoza attempted to make an escape on foot before the arrest was made. He is now being detained at the Hays County Jail, with charges laid out against him including burglary, sexual assault, and indecent assault, among others.
Mendoza's criminal past adds a layer to the case, being previously on probation in Bexar County for charges related to indecent exposure. According to CBS Austin, the arrest was facilitated by police cooperation with Bexar County probation officers. In the wake of these events, the San Marcos Police Department is urging anyone with additional information to come forward, an appeal made in hopes of piecing together the full scope of Mendoza's alleged transgressions.
