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Saint Ann police honor Officer Mendezizabal for arrests, child rescue and theft-ring work
Summary
The police department presented Officer Mendezizabal with an officer-of-the-month recognition after the officer secured multiple felony warrants, helped stop a theft ring tied to retail thefts at Menards that progressed to federal involvement, and rescued a small child from an unattended vehicle containing a firearm.
The City of Saint Ann police department presented Officer Mendezizabal (spelling varies in the transcript) with an officer-of-the-month award at the Oct. 6 board meeting.
Police leaders said Mendezizabal secured five felony-warrant filings in one month, helped identify and investigate a theft ring tied to repeated retail thefts at Menards that led to a federal take-up of the case, and assisted in rescuing a young child left unattended in a vehicle where a firearm was found. Department presenters credited the officer’s surveillance-review work, follow-up and coordination with federal partners for building the case.
The award presentation included remarks from department leaders and a brief statement from the officer and squad members. Chief and other speakers emphasized squad teamwork and training; the department noted the case was being adopted by HSI (Homeland Security Investigations) for federal prosecution.
The recognition was ceremonial; no board action beyond the presentation was recorded. The transcript contains several name- and spelling-variants for the officer and involved individuals; the article uses the spelling as presented in the department remarks and flags that the transcript shows variations.
