Monday, Jul. 07, 2008
Alleged gangster seeks respect through assault
Man taken to hospital for treatment of head wound
Minerva Perez
mperez@losbanosenterprise.com
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According to Los Baños Police Department Cmdr. Dan Fitchie, officers responded to reports of a gang fight in the Delaware Avenue and Madrone Street area at 5:15 p.m. Upon arrival they found a 22-year-old male bleeding from the head. Fitchie said the victim told police that the incident, and his subsequent head wound, stemmed from involving himself with a person who allegedly stole a bicycle.
“A neighbor’s bicycle was stolen and the (alleged thief) was riding it in front of his house,” Fitchie said.
The victim confronted the suspect, who was accompanied by a group of three or four other people, according to Fitchie. The victim reportedly threw an object at the suspect.
The suspect allegedly threw the object back and a fight ensued, Fitchie said. At some point one of the members of the group brought out an aluminum baseball bat and allegedly struck the victim in the head.
The victim’s car was also struck with different objects.
Fitchie said a black Honda arrived at the scene and the group threw their weapons, including the baseball bat and a crowbar, into the trunk. They then entered the vehicle and left.
An officer en route to the scene spotted the Honda and stopped it at Arizona Avenue and West H Street.
The people in the vehicle were identified as those allegedly involved in the assault and were taken into custody.
Among those arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon were a 17-year-old male and a 13-year-old male.
Fitchie said the 13-year-old admitted to being a member of a gang and stated “he did that (the assault) so he would gain respect.”
The victim was treated at Memorial Hospital Los Baños and released. Fitchie said the investigation is ongoing.
Enterprise reporter Minerva Perez can be reached by phone at (209)388-6565 or by e-mail at mperez@losbanosenterprise.com