Sunday Assault, Robbery May Be Gang-Related

A robbery and assault involving a baseball bat in Watsonville on Sunday night is believed to be gang-related, a police sergeant said.

Officers responded to a report of a robbery victim at Watsonville Community Hospital at 10:20 p.m. Sunday, police Sgt. David Rodriguez said. Arriving officers found the victim, whose injuries were not considered life-threatening, Rodriguez said.

Investigators learned that prior to his hospital visit, three suspects followed the victim to Waters Alley between Jefferson and Lincoln streets, Rodriguez said.

The suspects asked the victim where he was from and he said he wasn’t part of a gang. The suspects then attacked him with a baseball bat and stole cash from his pocket before fleeing, according to Rodriguez.

One of the suspects is described as an 18-year-old Hispanic man who was last seen wearing a red hat and black hooded sweatshirt, Rodriguez said. A description for the two other suspects was not available.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Watsonville police dispatch at (831) 471-1151, the anonymous tip line at (831) 768-3544 or the department’s investigations bureau at (831) 768-3352.

• Also see:
• Cops Investigate Friday Night Stabbing In Watsonville
• FBI Joins Search For Missing Santa Cruz Co. Girl, 8
• Shots Fired In Watsonville Neighborhood; Cops Seek Possible Victim and Suspects

--Bay City News

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