Clearlake Police Department makes arrest in felony Dec. 3 assault
- Lake County News reports
- Posted On
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Police Department said it its investigation into a Dec. 3 assault that left a man seriously injured has resulted in an arrest.
On Monday, the Clearlake Police Department’s Investigations Bureau arrested 28-year-old Paul John Mendez Jr. of Clearlake for probable cause in the attack on Nicholas Vining, 29, known as “Caveman,” according to Det. Ryan Peterson.
The attack was reported to the Clearlake Police Department on Dec. 4 and was believed to have occurred in the area of the 6800 block of Old Highway 53, Peterson said.
Peterson said Vining was transported to the UCSF Medical Center where he was placed into a medically induced coma due to his severe injuries. Due to Vining’s condition, he initially was unable to be interviewed by investigators.
Based on statements Vining’s family and friends posted on social media, it was initially believed that juveniles from the Clearlake Creativity School located in the area might have been involved in the attack. Staff were contacted by investigators, but no leads were obtained through those contacts nor from a search of the area where the incident was reported to have occurred, Peterson said.
At the time, Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg said he directed school staff to reach out to the school resource officer to make available surveillance camera footage, but they were told at the time that the attack didn’t take place near the school, nor was it related to the school, as Lake County News has reported.
However, Peterson said last week Vining’s condition improved and a detective was able to interview him, which led to the latest development.
Through the investigation, Peterson said Mendez was identified as one of the subjects who assaulted Vining.
Mendez is a known subject to law enforcement, is on active California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation parole for sexual battery and is a registered sex offender with ankle monitoring, Peterson said. In 2009, Mendez was prosecuted for sexually assaulting a child under age 14, as Lake County News has reported.
Peterson said investigators contacted Mendez’s parole officer and she provided them with his location. On Monday afternoon they found him walking along Highway 20 in Clearlake Oaks, where he was placed under arrest.
Mendez was interviewed by investigators and admitted to the assault of Vining. Peterson said Mendez was booked into the Lake County Jail on Monday night for probable cause for the violations of assault with a deadly weapon, felony battery, robbery and a parole violation.
Due to the parole violation, Mendez is being held without bond, Peterson said.
Peterson said that, based on the investigation, it is believed that the information from social media identifying the involvement of juveniles from the Clearlake Creativity School was inaccurate. Additionally, the area where the attack actually occurred is not believed to be where it was originally reported.
He said investigators also believe that other subjects may have been involved or witnessed the attack of Vining.
The investigation is still ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Det. Peterson at 707-994-8251, Extension 320.