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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation officers lodged a detainer with the Montgomery County Detention Center Tuesday on a 26-year-old man who police say violently attacked a woman in Silver Spring last week.

RELATED: Man facing multiple charges after violently attacking woman in Montgomery County, police say

According to Montgomery County Police, a woman was carrying items from her parked car into her apartment building in the 8500 block of 16th Street at around 11:55 p.m. on August 16 when she says she noticed a man that appeared to be following her.

When she unlocked the door to the building, police say the man grabbed her from behind and threw her to the floor. When the woman tried to yell and resist, police say the man strangled her with his bare hands before punching her multiple times in the face and head. Police say the man then raped the woman.

Following an investigation, Kevin Mendoza, who police say is a former resident of the apartment building, was developed as a suspect.

He was arrested Monday morning and charged with first-degree rape, attempted second-degree murder and first-degree assault.


According to ICE, Mendoza is a Honduran National who is unlawfully present in the U.S.

ICE released the following statement on detainers Tuesday:



"Detainers serve as a legally-authorized request, upon which a law enforcement agency may rely, to continue to maintain custody of an alien for up to 48 hours so that ICE may assume custody for removal purposes. Pursuant to ICE policy, all ICE detainers are submitted with an accompanying administrative arrest warrant or warrant of removal depending upon the circumstances of the individual case. "



