Bounty hunters indicted on impersonation, kidnapping charges

Two bounty hunters were indicted on charges they impersonated police officers and robbed two exotic dancers while trying to apprehend a pimp, prosecutors said Wednesday.

Christopher Ontiveros-Mendez and Charles Sean Rush, who told police they were fugitive recovery agents, face robbery, kidnapping and impersonating a police officer charges.

Las Vegas police said Rush told investigators that he and Ontiveros-Mendez were attempting to apprehend a pimp who had skipped out on $80,000 bail. They had hoped the pimp would accompany the escorts they hired.

The first victim arrived at the apartment near Russell Road and Buffalo Drive just before 1 a.m. July 12 for what she thought was a bachelor party. As she walked into the apartment, she was handcuffed by Ontiveros-Mendez and told she was under arrest for prostitution, the arrest report said.

Both men flashed what looked like police badges and took her Gucci purse, cell phone and more than $600 out of her car before “releasing” her, according to the report.

Feeling that something was awry, the woman called police.

Officers found that Rush, wearing body armor, and Ontiveros-Mendez, carrying a handgun, had detained another man and a woman on the sidewalk near the apartment.

Officers arrested the two bounty hunters.

They later told police they stole the cash and that Rush had given the Gucci purse to his wife, according to a police report.

Both Ontiveros-Mendez and Rush are being held on $150,000 at the Clark County Detention Center.

Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.