Mother claims there was no need to file kidnapping report

Brenda Estrada, the woman allegedly kidnapped along with her two children last week, told ABC-7 she was never in danger and there was no need to file a report.

“It’s a lie, that he was armed and forced me into a car with him,” the 31-year-old Estrada said, speaking exclusively with ABC-7 on the same day we obtained a criminal complaint stating the accused kidnapper allegedly assaulted her a day before the alleged kidnapping.

“If they want to turn things around, who knows what their motivation is,” a police spokesman told ABC-7 before saying he would no longer comment on the matter.

29-year-old Miguel Angel Mendez, who triggered a statewide manhunt and Amber Alert, was charged with three counts of Aggravated Kidnapping and jailed on bonds totaling $450,000 after turning himself in to police Friday, March 10, 2017.

Police said Estrada and her two children, 9-year-old Brandon Jesus Estrada and 9-year-old Ashley Michelle Estrada, were abducted at gunpoint. It allegedly happened Thursday March 9, 2017 on the 300 block of Chelsea.

ABC-7 obtained a criminal complaint filed for an alleged domestic violence incident involving Mendez and Estrada on March 8, 2017.

Police officers were dispatched to a home on the 5600 block of Daily in reference to an “assault in progress.” The document states an investigation revealed Mendez, who appeared to be intoxicated, arrived at the home demanding Estrada “make him something to eat.”

Mendez reportedly got angry and started shouting profanity. He allegedly pulled Estrada’s hair and punched her in the arm, the court document states.

The victim asked her two children to go hide in their room and ran away to the church across the street. Mendez ran after the woman, but was allegedly denied entrance into the church, the affidavit states.

Mendez allegedly drove away before police arrived.

Estrada acknowledged the information in the complaint filed against Mendez, saying it was the first time Mendez ever assaulted her. Estrada said she went to stay with her mother the next day and Mendez allegedly visited her there to apologize. He promised her mother “it would never happen again,” Estrada said.

Estrada said she was watching the news and learned an Amber Alert had been issued for her and her two children. That is when they decided to turn themselves in to police.

“We told them a false Amber Alert report was filed and we were unaware she had done so,” Estrada said.

Estrada told ABC-7 she is pregnant with Mendez’s child.

The ABC-7 I-Team learned Mendez has an extensive criminal history, including multiple arrests for possession of marijuana.

MENDEZ’S ARREST RECORD, PER COUNTY JAIL RECORDS:

05/15/2008 Charge: Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Deliver 10/14/2012 Charge: Driving While Intoxicated 05/02/2006 Charge: Possession of Marijuana in a Drug Free Zone (Dismissed) 06/30/2010 Charge: Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Deliver 03/09/2013 Charge: Possession of Marijuana 11/29/2009 Charges: Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, Assault Casing Bodily Injury, Theft of Firearm, Unlawful Possession of Firearm 02/05/2008 Charge: Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Deliver 11/15/2013 Charge: Driving While Intoxicated (BAC greater than .15) 05/06/2014 Charge: Probation Violation