Julio Mendez (Earth-90)

Julio Mendez was a forensic scientist for Central City Police Department and the best friend of Barry Allen.

Early life
At some point as a kid, Julio almost got recruited by a gang leader but with the help of his childhood friend Wayne Cotrell, the both fought the gang until they left Julio alone.

At some point, during his years as a forensic scientist, he befriended his colleague Barry Allen to the point that they would frequently do double date.

The Dark Riders attack
In 1990, he arrived at the crime scene at the Central City Armory where his arrival caused the journalist Linda Park to realize that he and Barry weren't detective. Julio then criticized the fact that she isn't a good journalist if she doesn't know what it is to be forensic scientist. Back at the lab, he noticed the violent storm outside and wonder what bad could happen from it. they then watch on TV what chief Cooper has to say about those Dark Riders that cause problem to the city but Kline doesn't believe him but the storm cause the TV to glitch and Barry then ask Julio to go get some material but Julio would fall asleep with pissed Barry to the point that Barry sent him home but before leaving, he witnessed the lightning striking the station and went back to the lab to see if Barry was okay and only found him unconscious. He would then call for help. The next day Julio would be surprised that Barry has already woken up from his coma and warn Barry that his doctor has called. After the call Julio would ask what it was and Barry told him that it was some kind of cell damage and that his doctor wanted to send him to S.T.A.R. Labs which surprised Julio because he has heard a rumor that someone got killed last year. Two days later, Julio told Barry that he got samples from the crime scene, and they process to run the machine to identify the criminal. After the Dark Riders attack during the promotion of the new squad, Julio witness the Barry's brother's interview where he openly threatened the Dark Riders. Later, at the lab, after that Jay and his squad departed to protect a convoy, Julio met Dr. Tina McGee from S.T.A.R. Labs and Julio commented on the fact that he should marry her due to Barry recent break up with Iris. Julio then inform Barry that the result of the samples are in, and they revealed that it belonged to Nicholas Pike Barry's brothers former partner who went rogue. They quickly deduced that since Jay ambushed him at Highway 61, and that Jay is currently heading the same highway, that Pike is planning to ambush Jay as a payback. The day after Jay's funeral, Julio joined Barry at the lab where Barry informed Julio that he has identify the gang's location but before Julio could tell Barry that they should inform the chief, Barry was already gone. After Pike's arrest, Julio went to celebrate the arrest at the Allen house.

Trivia

 * He is an original character from the show.
 * Alex Désert would later play his character's Earth-1 doppelgänger in 2017 as a guest.
 * The episode is the only centric episode about him.
 * The Jazz theme is a reference to the fact that Alex Désert is also actually a singer.