WASHINGTON – A Montgomery County police officer posed as an assassin this week as part of an undercover sting to bust a murder-for-hire scheme.

Police discovered in February that a local resident was looking for a hit man to murder his wife and her friend. They staged an undercover setup to catch Daniel Alfaro Mendoza, 48, of Rockville, to stop the would-be murder before it happened.

He is accused of offering $200 and the title to his car in exchange for two lives, police say.

On March 5, police say an undercover officer made contact with Mendoza, a Honduras native, and indicated he would be willing to kill for money. The targets were Ermosinda Saravia, the wife, and Arturo Gamboa Yangali, her friend.

The next morning, the officer met Mendoza at the Twinbrook Metro Station where the details of the murder were discussed.

Mendoza identified his wife and told the officer where she lived, police say. He also asked the officer to wait until he returned to Honduras to avoid suspicion.

Police arrested Mendoza immediately after the meeting.

In October 2011, Saravia filed a protective order against Mendoza after she says he threatened to kill her, police say.

Mendoza is charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder. Police have not given any possible motives for the murder.

Mendoza appeared Wednesday in Rockville District Court. He is being held without bond.

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