Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Department – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) have arrested and charged Kevin Mendoza, age 26, of the 8500 block of 16th Street in Silver Spring, with the first-degree rape and attempted second-degree murder of an adult female that occurred at an apartment building in Silver Spring.

On August 16 at approximately 11:55 p.m., officers responded to the report of a rape that had just occurred at an apartment building in the 8500 block of 16th Street. Investigation by SVID detectives has determined that the victim was carrying items from her vehicle parked in the parking lot to the apartment building when she noticed a male that appeared to be following her. As she unlocked the door to the building, the male suspect grabbed her from behind and threw her to the floor. The victim attempted to yell and resist but the suspect began to strangle her with his hands. As the victim continued to attempt to escape the suspect struck her multiple times in the face and head with a closed fist. The suspect then raped the victim.

The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of multiple injuries sustained during the attack. Doctors advised detectives that the severity of the strangulation the victim suffered could have resulted in her death.

Through investigation, Mendoza, who is a former resident of the apartment building in which he committed the rape, was developed as a suspect.

Today, at approximately 10:34 a.m., officers arrested Mendoza on Ross Road in Silver Spring. He was transported to the Central Processing Unit and charged with first-degree rape, attempted second-degree murder, and first-degree assault. Bond information is not available at this time.