Otoniel Mendez-Chanay

Name:
Mendez-Chanay, Otoniel

Date of Booking:
10/31/2025

Reason(s) For Booking:
Kidnapping, Adult

Aggravated Identity Fraud

Willful Obstruction Of Law Officers, Misd

Cruelty To Child, Allow To Witness Fel/ Bat/ Fv, 3rd

Battery, Family Violence (1st Offense)

Driving Without A Valid License, Misd

No Insurance

Failure To Appear, Misd

Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]

On 04/25/2025 I responded to a call in reference to a domestic dispute at [REDACTED BY AGENCY] upon my arrival, Officer Hammontree and Officer Cook were already on scene and had a subject detained in handcuffs. I took over the interviews due to the parties involved only speaking Spanish.

I spoke with the victim, who identified herself as [VICTIM #1]. I asked [VICTIM #1] to explain what happened. [VICTIM #1] stated that she had an argument with her partner, identified as Otoniel Mendez, but that it was only verbal. I observed [VICTIM #1] holding the left side of her stomach as if she were in pain. I asked her if Otoniel had hit her in the stomach, to which she replied that she fell to the ground because it was wet.

I then spoke with the individual who was temporarily detained in handcuffs, identified as [WITNESS #1]. [WITNESS #1] stated that he was inside the apartment when he heard the argument but did not see anything. At first, we believed he was the suspect due to a scratch on his arm. However, [WITNESS #1] insisted that the scratch was caused by scraping his arm on the door when officers were placing him in handcuffs.

[WITNESS #1] stated that he is Otoniel’s brother and that he had just come back from work, so he did not know what had happened, only that he heard them arguing. I asked [WITNESS #1] if he knew where his brother was, to which he said no. I removed [WITNESS #1] from handcuffs once we realized he was not the suspect.

There were two other individuals inside the apartment, identified as [WITNESS #2] and [WITNESS #3]. I spoke with both and asked them about the incident. Both stated that they were inside the apartment when they heard [VICTIM #1], who is their aunt, arguing with Otoniel. Both said they did not see anything. They also stated that [VICTIM #1], Otoniel, [WITNESS #1], [WITNESS #2], and [WITNESS #3] all lived in the same apartment. I asked if Otoniel was still inside, and they both said he had left before the police arrived. I asked for consent to check the apartment, and they gave permission. Officer Cook and I conducted a protective sweep, but Otoniel was not inside.

I then spoke with [WITNESS #4], a neighbor who witnessed the incident. [WITNESS #4] stated that she observed Otoniel punch [VICTIM #1] in the stomach in front of [REDACTED BY AGENCY] she explained that after punching [VICTIM #1], Otoniel grabbed her by the hair and pulled her inside the apartment, where he continued to strike her and would not let her leave. [WITNESS #4] said she could see inside the apartment because the door was left open. She also stated that they had to look after [REDACTED BY AGENCY] because she was left outside by herself after [VICTIM #1] was pulled inside. [WITNESS #4] also informed us that [VICTIM #1] is pregnant. [WITNESS #4] said that Otoniel fled when told that police had been called.

I also spoke with [WITNESS #5], another neighbor. [WITNESS #5] said she heard screaming and went outside, where she observed Otoniel pulling [VICTIM #1] by the hair into the apartment. [WITNESS #5] also stated that Otoniel ran away before the police arrived.

After speaking with the witnesses, [VICTIM #1] approached me, now willing to talk about the incident. I noticed she was still holding her stomach. Knowing she is pregnant, I asked if she wanted EMS to check her, and she said yes. While waiting for EMS, I asked how far along she was in the pregnancy, and she said five months.

I asked if Otoniel was the father of the baby, and she said yes. I asked [VICTIM #1] to explain again what happened. [VICTIM #1] stated that during the argument, Otoniel punched her in the face and stomach, then grabbed her by the hair, pulled her into the apartment, and punched her again. She stated that Otoniel took her cell phone and fled when he realized police had been called.

When EMS arrived, they checked on [VICTIM #1], who then decided she wanted to go to the hospital to make sure her unborn baby was okay. I provided [VICTIM #1] with a victim’s rights form before she left. I asked [VICTIM #1] who she wanted to watch [REDACTED BY AGENCY] while she was at the hospital. [VICTIM #1] requested that her neighbor [WITNESS #4] watch [REDACTED BY AGENCY] but [WITNESS #4] stated she was unable to. I informed [VICTIM #1], who then said [REDACTED BY AGENCY] could stay with [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was left under their care until [VICTIM #1] returned.

I made several attempts to obtain Otoniel’s date of birth but was unsuccessful, as none of the parties involved knew it. [WITNESS #1] showed me a picture of Otoniel and his Facebook account. I will upload the pictures of Otoniel to this report.

I conducted several extra patrols in the area in attempt to locate Otoniel but was unsuccessful. I will follow up with [VICTIM #1] to check on the status of her unborn child and continue attempts to locate Otoniel.

Otoniel did commit the offense of Simple Battery FVA (OCGA 16-5-23(F)) When He Did Intentionally Cause Physical Harm To [VICTIM #1], his pregnant partner, by punching her in the face during a domestic argument.

Otoniel did commit the offense of Cruelty To Children in The Third Degree (OCGA 16-5-70(d)) when he did commit an act of family violence by striking [VICTIM #1] in the presence of [REDACTED BY AGENCY] causing the child to witness the violent act.

Otoniel did commit the offense of Assault on an unborn child (OCGA 16-5-28) when he did punch [VICTIM #1], knowing that she was pregnant, causing physical contact likely to cause harm to the unborn child.

Otoniel did commit the offense of False Imprisonment (OCGA 16-5-41) when he did arrest, confine, or detain [VICTIM #1] without legal authority by grabbing her by the hair and forcibly pulling her into the apartment, preventing her from leaving.

[End of Narrative]