Two students were arrested at Scotts Valley High School Monday by Scotts Valley Police Department officers, as part of a joint investigation with the Santa Cruz Police Department into the assault of a homeless man.
The boys—a 16-year-old resident of Scotts Valley and a 14-year-old who lives in Santa Cruz—were involved in an incident, days earlier, that left the victim with serious injuries, Santa Cruz police said.
Just before 8:30pm on Sept. 30, SCPD officers headed to the 1400 block of Ocean Street, responding to a report of a fight. Upon arrival, they discovered a semi-conscious victim with head injuries.
The 53-year-old man was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
Witnesses described seeing three youth attacking the victim and stomping on his head, police said.
Video obtained by police showed the man was running away when the suspects attacked, according to Santa Cruz police officials.
Investigators say the culprits then fled by car.
“From the vehicle we were able to ascertain the registered owner of the car, which led detectives to a Scotts Valley address,” said SCPD spokesperson Joyce Blaschke. “At that point, the Santa Cruz Police Department contacted the Scotts Valley Police Department and brought them in on the investigation.”
SVPD helped identify the suspects and conducted the arrests, she said.
Both teens were taken to Santa Cruz County Juvenile Hall and charged with assault likely to cause great bodily injury.
Blaschke declined to say if police are still looking for a third suspect.
According to police, the victim is now in stable condition.
