SAN FRANCISCO —Israel Mendez, 29, of Daly City was arrested by police, according to a press release issued by the San Francisco Police Department on July 25.

            Mendez, who was apprehended on July 21, was the suspect of an ongoing investigation of sexual assault against prostitutes in the Mission district area between the days of June 19 -29. According to police, in both incidents, Mendez picked up the victim and took her to a remote industrial area and raped her. In addition to raping both victims, Mendez also threatened the life of his first victim, and brutally beat his second. Once apprehended, Mendez was charged with kidnapping to commit rape, false imprisonment, and other sexual assault crimes. 

            Police investigations led to the capture of Mendez, “Noting similarities in the attacks, police focused attention on the high prostitution areas of the Mission district and located Mendez inside his vehicle on July 21,” the police department stated. “He was taken into custody without incident.”

            Although Mendez remains in custody, the police department believes that there have been other attacks of this nature and urges anyone with information to come forward.