Man involved in fatal hit-and-run accident, previously charged with robbery and kidnapping

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – A man suspected by police of being the driver in a fatal hit-and-run crash had also previously been charged with robbery and kidnapping, police said.

Manuel Mendoza Jr. was arrested on May 23, more than a month after a car crash that killed Robert Bager, police said.

On April 20, police received reports of an accident involving a pedestrian near North Main Street and Foremaster Avenue. A police report stated that the pedestrian appeared to be dead and the driver of the vehicle involved had left the scene of the accident.

When the first officer arrived on the scene, he began first aid and performed CPR on the pedestrian. When a medical team arrived, they determined that the pedestrian, later identified as Robert Bager, was beyond resuscitation, the police report said.

Investigators present at the scene of the accident later determined that prior to the accident, Bager had crossed Main Street south of Foremaster Avenue from east to west outside of a marked or implied crosswalk.

Surveillance video and witness statements from the area showed a white Chrysler Sebring convertible driving south on Main Street at a high rate of speed and turning onto Owens Avenue, the report said.

On May 1, police received information that Mendoza was suspected of a hit-and-run accident and was also listed in a robbery case in connection with which he had been arrested. Investigators determined that the vehicle Mendoza used during the alleged robbery was the white Chrysler Sebring. The vehicle also had a suspended registration and was registered to an owner in Los Angeles, California, police said.

Investigators also learned that the National Insurance Crime Bureau investigated the vehicle following reports of a suspicious car fire and stated that it was completely burned. Investigators also learned that the vehicle was towed a day after the crash at the request of Henderson police. Police said pictures taken by the towing company showed impact damage to the front right half of the vehicle.

Henderson police also said 911 calls reported smoke near Athens Avenue and North Orleans Street shortly before 1:30 a.m. on April 21, the police report said.

Near the burned-out car, police found a Nevada license plate, but it belonged to a 2001 BMW. Investigators then determined that the vehicle had been driven to the scene and concluded that the cause of the fire was arson, according to the report.

The Nevada license plate found at the scene of the fire indicated that the vehicle had been struck at 11:33 p.m. on April 20 and again at 11:41 p.m. that same evening, police said. Investigators then determined that the damage to the Chrysler was consistent with the hit-and-run accident, according to the police report. Investigators concluded that the Chrysler was likely burned in an attempt to destroy and obscure evidence of his involvement, police said in the report.

A search of Mendoza’s DMV records also revealed a ticket dated Jan. 12 for using a false vehicle registration/plate/title and false proof of owner’s insurance. Mendoza’s criminal history also included charges of robbery, burglary and kidnapping, according to the police report.

According to the police report, police also found a warrant for his arrest for failing to appear in court because he could not provide proof of insurance. Investigators also learned that Mendoza was released on a robbery charge, had a restraining order placed on him by the court, and was scheduled to appear in court on May 23. Police conducted another search at his home that day and arrested him.

After his arrest, Mendoza told police he was on his way to visit friends at the Circus Cirus casino the night of the hit-and-run crash. On the way there, he told police “a person appeared in front of his vehicle,” police said. Mendoza then told police he “could not specify which part of his vehicle struck the person, but stated the impact was loud and he knew he hit something,” according to the report. Mendoza then told police “he became scared and began to panic.” Mendoza then denied having anything to do with or knowing about the Chrysler fire, instead saying he left the keys in the unlocked vehicle, according to the police report.

According to police, Mendoza Jr. faces the following charges:

• Obligation to stop at the scene of an accident in the event of a death
• Destroy/hide evidence