“The case began about 3:26 a.m. Thursday,” Florida’s tcpalm.com reports. I know what you’re thinking: nothing good happens at 3:26 a.m. on a Thursday morning. And you’d be right.
Two women flagged down officers at South Maple Street and County Road 512, with one saying she’d been “injured by a firearm from an individual she knew only as ‘Rick,’” the affidavit states.
The women said they were brought to a closed business in a green 2005 Chevrolet Equinox by two men.
“The purpose for this was to engage in sexual favors for money,” the affidavit states.
What could possibly go wrong? I know what you’re thinking: a dispute over money. And you’d be right.
“After the exchange of sexual favors for money, there was a disagreement over payment,” the affidavit states.
The women ended up getting back in the Equinox with the two men, and the disagreement continued. The women got scared they wouldn’t be driven home, so they started to get out of the vehicle.
That, according to statements in the affidavit, is when one man got a shotgun, firing at least one time.
Police Chief Keith Touchberry on Friday said the woman “immediately reacted after the shotgun blast.”
“The physical evidence to corroborate her claim that she was struck by bird shot was she had a small superficial injury to her nose and to her hand,” Touchberry said.
Mr. Castro-Mendez was subsequently found to be in possession of a 12-gauge shotgun and arrested.
I know what you’re thinking: Mr Castro-Mendez may one day face the unenviable possibility of receiving unwanted sexual attention in prison. Now there’s an irresponsible thought about an irresponsible gun owner . . .