WASHINGTON — Police have arrested an 18-year-old man in last month’s assault of a woman who worked at a Northwest D.C. hotel — an arrest that was made in part because police tracked the suspect’s Metro use.
Ernesto Agustin Mendoza was charged with intent to commit first-degree sexual abuse while armed after an incident at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in the 1000 block of H Street Northwest on Nov. 26.
A hotel employee was working in a room with the door open, she told police, when the suspect entered.
“He grabbed her, produced a knife, ordered her to take off her clothes or he would kill her,” D.C. police Lt. John Haines said.
The woman fought back, and the man eventually fled the scene, according to detectives. During the attack, Haines said, the attacker tore out some of the victim’s hair and scalp.
Video evidence showed investigators that the man arrived and left the scene using Metrorail. Even though they couldn’t identify the suspect, Haines said, police were able to track him as he used the Metro system for almost a month after the attack.
A break in the case came this week when police got a lead about Mendoza’s whereabouts on Monday. Metro transit police then caught up with Mendoza at the Landover Metro station.
“We did identify him as the individual who we believe committed this heinous act,” Haines said.
Mendoza, who has no fixed address, will appear in court on Friday.
D.C. police are trying to determine if there are any additional victims, Haines said, and they encourage anyone with a related case or information in hotel case to call 202-727-3700.
WTOP’s Sarah Beth Hensley contributed to this report.
