13-year-old abducted by man posing as cop who hit him with truck, California cops say

A man posing as a cop abducted a 13-year-old boy he’d hit with a pickup truck in Los Angeles, police in California reported.

The boy was riding his bicycle at Van Nuys Boulevard and Tupper Street at 8 a.m. Wednesday, July 6, when he was hit by a man in a dark gray 2019 Toyota Tundra pickup truck, police said in a news release.

Ottoniel Mendoza, 38, flashed a badge at the teen and ordered him to get in the truck, police said. The boy complied and Mendoza drove off with him.

Alert onlookers to the collision followed the truck and notified police, the release said.

Officers stopped the truck at Sepulveda Boulevard and Tupper, police said. They arrested Mendoza on a charge of kidnapping.

Police interviewed another man in the truck and released him. The boy was taken to a hospital to be treated for minor injuries from the crash.

Officers included photos of Mendoza and his truck in the news release and are seeking other possible victims.

They ask that anyone with information call detective Bryce Kirk at 818-838-9810.

This story was originally published July 7, 2022 at 11:54 AM with the headline "13-year-old abducted by man posing as cop who hit him with truck, California cops say."