A suspected Peeping Tom who allegedly targeted UCLA students is due in court Monday.
An acquaintance of Christopher Mendicino, 47, called university police after seeing a “Wanted” poster asking for the public’s help in locating a man suspected of eight recent peeping incidents in Westwood, officials said.
Just before he was arrested, Mendicino allegedly asked a friend to store his belongings and to buy him an Amtrak train ticket to Santa Barbara under a fake name. After he was arrested, police found another train ticket in his possession, to San Luis Obispo.
Mendicino was previously arrested in 2007 after officers saw him peering into an apartment on Ophir Drive and trying to open the door.
He was again arrested in May for disorderly conduct stemming from a peeping incident, university police said in a statement.
He is suspected of eight peeping incidents since March, including five at UCLA student apartments on Kelton Avenue.
"This is a fine example of solid police work by our officers,” said UCLA Police Chief James Herren. "The UCPD officers’ investigation and the broad circulation of the wanted bulletin led to a tip from a concerned member of the public, resulting in the arrest of a man suspected of targeting students."
News
Top news of the day
He is being held in lieu of $30,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court Monday, August 4.