Man held without bail after alleged kidnap attempt

LYNN – A judge ordered a city man held without bail after a woman said the man tried to force her into a car on Hollingsworth Street.”(The alleged victim) said the man asked her if she wanted to make some money ? and she ignored him,” Essex Assistant District Attorney Doug Sheehan said in Lynn District Court on Tuesday. “The defendant then got out of the car, grabbed her by the arm and tried to force her several times, tried to force her inside.”Armando Niz Mendez, 26, of 51 Rock Ave. #2, was arrested and charged with attempt to commit a crime, kidnapping; and assault and battery; at 11:15 a.m. Jan. 18. He was arraigned Tuesday in Lynn District Court where a plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf.Sheehan told the court that Lynn Police responded to Hollingsworth Street in the middle of the morning Jan. 18 on a report of a woman being assaulted and a man trying to force the woman into a car.The woman told police she was inside a variety store when she noticed a man, later identified as Mendez, behind her. She left the store and started walking down the street when Mendez pulled up beside her in his car and said, “Hey baby,” Sheehan told the court. The alleged victim said she ignored Mendez and kept walking, but noted the license plate on the car. Mendez allegedly continued to follow her and asked her if she wanted to make some money.The alleged victim said she continued to ignore Mendez, and he stopped the car, got out, and grabbed her arm and tried to force her inside the vehicle, Sheehan said.He said the alleged victim escaped and gave police the license plate of Mendez’s car. Sheehan said the alleged victim also positively identified Mendez as her alleged assailant when police pulled up a record of his license photo.Officers stopped the car later. Mendez said he saw the girl in the store and asked if she wanted a ride, Sheehan reported.He requested that Mendez be held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing when the alleged victim could testify.Court-appointed defense attorney Todd Siegel said his client denied any assault occurred, and said he had only stopped his car to speak with a friend of his who was on the street.”I very much would like the opportunity to cross examine this (alleged victim),” Siegel said. He noted his client had no record save for a driving offense.Judge James Wexler ordered Mendez held until a dangerousness hearing scheduled for Tuesday.