Police: Bounty hunters pretending to be officers rob exotic dancers

Two bounty hunters impersonated police officers and robbed two exotic dancers while trying to apprehend a pimp on Friday, Las Vegas police said.

Christopher Ontiveros-Mendez and Charles Sean Rush, who told police they were fugitive recovery agents, were arrested Friday morning and charged with three counts each of robbery, kidnapping and impersonating a police officer, according to police reports.

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

The first victim arrived at the apartment located near Russell Road and Buffalo Drive just before 1 a.m. 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 report said.

The men, both of whom had what looked like police badges the victim said, then took her Gucci purse, cell phone, and more than $600 out of her car before “releasing” her.

Feeling that something was awry, the woman called the actual police.

Arriving officers began to search the area. Shortly after 2 a.m., officers saw Rush, wearing body armor, and Ontiveros-Mendez, carrying a handgun, had detained a man and a woman on the sidewalk near the apartment.

Officers released them and arrested the two bounty hunters.

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

Ontiveros-Mendez and Rush are being held without bail at the Clark County Detention Center.

Contact reporter Colton Lochhead at clochhead@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638. Follow him on Twitter @clochhead44.