TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) -
The
man arrested on charges of breaking into a midtown home, where a Tucson police
sergeant was later shot, has just gone before a judge.
Richard Mendoza Jr., 29, was seen before a judge on two counts of burglary and weapons
charges. But
keep in mind, even though this suspect was arrested for his alleged connection
to that break in that led to the shooting, he
is not facing charges for the shooting.
Mendoza is being held in the Pima County Jail without bond because he's already
facing felony charges in an unrelated case.
Tucson
police arrested Mendoza after searching the Randolph Park Hotel, just
down the street from the home that was targeted and
where Sergeant Robert Carpenter was shot in the head.
Police
believe Mendoza had been staying at the hotel so, they searched inside rooms as well as a U-Haul truck parked outside the hotel.
"We
don't have any evidence right now to connect him directly to the shooting of Sgt. Carpenter, however we are still exploring that idea. Right now we
have arrested him for the burglaries that occurred that night," said Tucson Police Sergeant Chris Widmer.
Police
are calling the arrest a big lead, but they are still asking the public for
help.
There
is now a $26,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the
person responsible for the shooting.
Anyone
with information is urged to call 911 or 88-CRIME.
Copyright 2012 Tucson News Now. All rights reserved.
