Santa Rosa Man Beat Up By Petaluma Teen: Sheriff's Office

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A Petaluma teenager was tracked down and arrested early Tuesday in connection with the beating of a Santa Rosa man after dispatchers received calls from two different people about a man who was bleeding and looked like he had been beaten up, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office.

The calls came in around 11:30 p.m. Monday about the incident in the 400 block of Hunter Lane in an unincorporated area of Santa Rosa, sheriff's Sgt. Juan Valencia said.

Deputies responded and spoke to the victim, who told them he'd agreed to meet the suspect on Hunter Lane but when he got into the suspect's car, people pulled him out and began beating him by punching and kicking him, possibly even using a bat or a similar weapon.

The victim was able to get away and run for help, Valencia said.

With blood streaming from his head and face, the victim told deputies he saw the suspect's car speed southbound on Hunter toward Mountain View Avenue.

Detectives with the sheriff's Violent Crimes Unit were called to the scene, and the victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment of the wounds.

As for what prompted the victim to meet up with the suspect Monday night, Valencia said that is still being investigated.

"We know they had a prior altercation; detectives are doing follow-up and working on a timeline," Valencia told Patch.

Monday night, Petaluma police heard about the incident over the radio and found the suspect in Petaluma; he was detained by Petaluma police until sheriff's deputies arrived and confirmed he was the suspect, Valencia said.

"Petaluma police officers knew about the suspect because they helped us with a fight he had been involved in on Jan. 13, which also took place on Hunter Lane," Valencia said. "In addition to finding the suspect, Petaluma police found the car involved in the Jan. 13 fight."

In that incident, Valencia said, the same victim was beaten up and another person was stabbed in the back.

Of five people involved in the Jan. 13 fight and stabbing, most had gang affiliations, Valencia said. One person also had a gun although it was not used Jan. 13, the sergeant said.

Two minors have been arrested on warrants in connection with the Jan. 13 incident; one of them was also charged with assault with a deadly weapon, Valencia said.

The suspect in Monday night's beating was booked into juvenile hall on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, felony conspiracy and petty theft, sheriff's officials said.

Detectives are still actively investigating both cases.

"Everyone except the victim is under 18, so their names and information will not be released," Valencia said.