People v. Mendoza CA5

BACKGROUND

On September 1, 2017, defendant stopped his car, pulled a gun, and pointed it at a man’s face because the man asked him to slow down in the neighborhood. A neighbor intervened and defendant left. After defendant drove away, the man called the sheriff’s department. Deputies later found defendant driving the same car and towing a stolen trailer. Defendant fled and was arrested. The deputies found a loaded handgun, methamphetamine, and “bump” keys for picking locks. On April 6, 2018, deputies recognized defendant while he was driving another vehicle. The deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but defendant fled, accelerating up to 100 miles per hour, running a red light, and weaving through traffic. The deputies were unable to stop defendant. The next day, defendant arrived at a man’s residence in the same vehicle and shot the man three times on the driveway. On April 9, 2018, deputies went to a trailer park to find defendant. They spotted him, but he fled. When they approached, he threatened them physically. Several deputies were able to arrest him. Retracing his steps, they found a loaded firearm. On June 4, 2019, the trial court granted in part defendant’s…