Patrick Mendoza, the restaurant manager accused of stopping on his bike and shooting at a man in front of a popular North End bakery last week, has been located and appeared in court to face some serious charges.
Police arrested Mendoza, 54, Friday, more than a week after the July 12 North End shooting, the department confirmed in a statement. A source with knowledge of the case said that Mendoza was apprehended in Falmouth down on Cape Cod.
Mendoza was allowed to remain behind the door of the court’s detention area as his attorney, Rosemary Scapicchio, spoke on his behalf in Boston Municipal Court at a 2 p.m. hearing, mere hours after his arrest was announced, before Judge James W. Coffey.
Mendoza faces charges including assault to murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, intimidating a witness, and three charges related to unlawful possession of a gun. Coffey ordered him detained until a detention hearing scheduled for Wednesday.
Assistant District Attorney Daniel Nucci said that Mendoza “had prior history” with the man he shot at and that he was currently on probation for an assault conviction involving the same man. The probation was set to end the day he allegedly shot at the man.
“This is a very serious offense and the Commonwealth would be seeking detention,” Nucci said.
Scapicchio said that she wanted to earliest possible detention hearing, which was granted.
Witnesses of the incident described a nearly Wild West-esque confrontation in front of the tourist hot spot Modern Pastry in the 200-block of Hanover Street at around 10:30 that Wednesday night, but with the alleged assailant — who a witness described as looking “homeless” — pedaling a bike.
“I’m gonna kill you mother (expletive)! It’s gonna be quick,” Mendoza allegedly yelled at the target of his ire — a man he has a rather extensive history with, including at least three incidents documented in court, according to a police report.
According to two police reports summarizing interviews with witnesses, Mendoza had some more colorful things to say as he turned his bike around toward the man, then dropped the bike in the street and pulled out a snub-nosed .38 revolver from his waistband.
A Modern Pastry employee told police that he heard “one loud popping sound, similar to fireworks” and saw the suspect he described as a 5-foot-8, skinny white male take off on his bike, gun in hand, toward Cross Street.
The alleged victim said that two shots rang out as he dove behind a Jeep parked in front of Modern Pastry for cover, and that “one of the shots narrowly missed him and impacted the front window of Modern Pastry.”
As Mendoza pedaled off, the alleged victim told police he was “running for my life” toward the Greenway when he came across a police officer and shared his story.
Mendoza is the only listed officer for the corporate entity “Monica’s Trattoria on Prince, Inc.,” behind the namesake North End Italian restaurant. This corporate entity began in 2017 with the voluntary dissolution of the former managing entity “Monica’s Trattoria Inc.,” in which Patrick Mendoza was only the listed treasurer, with Jorge Mendoza listed as president.
As the Herald reported, the city Licensing Board is weighing whether Monica’s Trattoria should remain open with its manager charged with such serious felonies. He did not appear for a scheduled Thursday meeting to review his “character and fitness” as licensee and manager of record for the business.
