Police raid house, but suspect not home

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Neighbors, workers and passing motorists gathered in small groups and watched with great interest as police raided a house at 505 Water Street Friday afternoon.

The raid proved unsuccessful, however, when the suspect turned out not to be at home.

Police are still looking for Felipe Mendoza, 27, who is sought on an arrest warrant issued for suspicion of domestic assault and auto theft.

New Ulm Police Department officers, Brown County Sheriff's deputies, Minnesota State Troopers and the Tri-County Emergency Response Unit surrounded the little white house on the hill behind Water Street for six hours Friday.

The Emergency Response Unit team, comprised of 12 officers wearing gas masks, helmets, camouflage and heavy body armor, ordered Mendoza out of the house with a bullhorn around 1:20 p.m. There was no response.

The Emergency Response Unit then fired flashbangs (explosive grenades designed to blind and stun suspects) and then 14 rounds of tear gas into the house through its windows and used a canister of pepper gas in the basement. They waited about 15 minutes before they broke down the door with a battering ram. A search of the house revealed nothing except a couch and two chairs. A canine unit was also dispatched, but also found nothing.

New Ulm Police Chief Howard Zins said the operation started at 8 a.m. but did not move on the house until 1:20 in the afternoon because the strike force was awaiting a search warrant and an arrest warrant from the Minnesota Department of Corrections in St. Paul. Zins said Mendoza is believed to have a 9 millimeter semi-automatic weapon and several knives. He is also a known drug user and is believed to be armed and dangerous.

New Ulm police logs indicate a call to locate Mendoza came in at 8:09 a.m. Friday morning. Another call reporting suspicious activity for the same address came in at the same time. Brown County Sheriff's Department logs say the warrant was obtained at 11:34 a.m.

New Ulm police received reports of domestic violence at the address the night before. Mendoza's probation officer signed an arrest and detainment order for the offense.

Police believe Mendoza left New Ulm early Friday morning. His whereabouts are unknown. Zins said he thinks Mendoza is driving a tan four-door 1986 Chevrolet Cavalier sedan with a sun and moon sticker in the rear window, which was reported stolen from Mark Schafer, the father of Mendoza's wife, Laura Schafer, at 3:45 p.m. Thursday in New Ulm. The license plate for the car reads BYD 496.

Zins also said he thinks Laura Schafer left town Thursday night after some of Mendoza's friends visited the house. Zins said Mendoza's friends are known to have many guns and also use drugs.

New Ulm police established road blocks on Water Street in between 3rd North and 5th North Streets around 1:15 p.m. The roadblocks were lifted at around 1:55 p.m.

Neighborhood residents who observed the incident said Mendoza is known for beating up women. Mendoza recently married Schaefer. Zins said Mendoza was upset after losing a custody battle Thursday, and could have been using methamphetamines and cocaine.

Onlookers gathered along 3rd and 5th North Streets to catch a glimpse of what was going on, but didn't get to see much. Zins said he was concerned about the proliferation of portable police scanners, which he thought contributed to a small amount of bystander interference.

"It's good that nobody got hurt," Zins said. "Officer safety is priority number one."

Mendoza has charges pending for domestic assault and auto theft. Mendoza also has outstanding warrants for drug charges in Clay and Stearns County. He is described as 5' 9", weighs 195 pounds and is in good physical condition. New Ulm police are asking anyone who sees Mendoza not to approach him, but to call them at (507) 233-6750.