ESCONDIDO–A man suspected of the 2002 murder of an Escondido man during a physical altercation at a sports bar was arrested by authorities today.
Escondido police officers took custody of Hector Mendieta, 35, after he was flown to the U.S. by U.S. Marshal’s San Diego Fugitive Task Force. Mendieta was booked into the Vista Detention Facility for first degree murder.
On September 10, 2002 at Dee’s Sports Tavern, 426 N. Rose Street, Hector Mendieta, then 21, and Bartolo Velador 35, were in a physical altercation. During the fight, Mendieta stabbed Velador and fled the scene. Velador later died as a result of his injuries. As Escondido Police Detectives began working the case, they learned that Mendieta fled the country into Mexico. Detectives developed probable cause to believe Mendieta was responsible for the murder, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
In 2012 this case was re-initiated by the Escondido Police Department Cold Case Homicide Unit. Believing there was still sufficient evidence to charge Mendieta with murder, in 2013 the Cold Case Unit requested the assistance of the US Marshal’s San Diego Fugitive Task Force in an effort to locate and arrest Mendieta.
In June of 2016 the US Marshal’s San Diego Fugitive Task Force located Mendieta in Mexico, and Mexican authorities arrested him for the warrant. After a lengthy extradition process, Mendieta was flown to the U.S and delivered to Escondido police.
