UCLA Police Believe They've Nabbed Serial Peeping Tom Suspect In Westwood
WESTWOOD (CBSLA.com) — Authorities believe they have nabbed a serial peeping Tom suspect who most often hit the UCLA and Westwood areas.
UCLA Police on Friday arrested 47-year-old Christopher Mendicino. The suspect had been sought for about two weeks after he was identified.
They Mendicino had just asked an acquaintance to store his belongings and buy him a train ticket to Santa Barbara under a false name, the Daily Bruin reported.
Officials told the newspaper that Mendicino may be a match for a man connected to eight peeping incidents since March. At least five of the incidents occurred on Kelton Avenue.
Authorities said three of the eight incidents occurred following Mendicino's last arrest -- in May -- on a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct after he was allegedly spotted peeking into an inhabited building.
When Mendicino failed to show up at an arraignment hearing, police issued a wanted poster.
University Police Lt. Mark Littlestone told the Bruin that Mendicino was also arrested in 2007 for a probable cause burglary after officers spotted him peering into an apartment on Ophir Drive.
An officer staked out a Santa Monica home near the corner of Rochester and Saltair Avenues early Friday morning and arrested Mendicino just after 6 a.m.
The suspect is being held at the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles in lieu of $30,000 bail.
Mendicino is scheduled to appear Monday at the Angeles Superior Court Airport Courthouse.
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