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| Police arrest two after attack at Tilton Park |
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| Written by John Saiz / Patterson Irrigator | |
| Saturday, 01 December 2007 | |
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Police estimate that close to 20 people jumped a rival gang member Nov. 20 at Tilton Park at James Burke Avenue and Kestrel Drive. The assault left a 15-year-old bloody and bruised and led to the arrest of two teens on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon with a gang enhancement. Most people involved in the assault were not identified, but the victim’s cooperation led to the two arrests. This marks the second time in two months that police have arrested a documented member of the Runners gang on suspicion of using a weapon to attack people believed to be associated with the Norteño gang. In both cases, the young victims helped identify the attackers. “Most of the time, we don’t get any (cooperation),” said Detective Ed Meraz, gang detective for Patterson Police Services. The early investigation seemed hampered by the typical obstacles of uncooperative witnesses. Police responded to reports of a large fight at Tilton Park and found many teens milling about. Deputies questioned several people, but no one claimed to know anything about a fight. That likely would have been as far as the investigation went, but later that evening, the parent of the victim called police. The mother reported that more than a dozen people had jumped her son. One person used a pipe in the attack, leaving the 15-year-old with visible injuries. Though he initially did not want to report the incident, the teen cooperated after his mother called police. Meraz said the mother had a lot to do with the arrests. He said teens in gangs will often lie to police or not answer questions when they have been victims of a crime. However, if a parent “lays it all out” for police, it can often convince a teen to cooperate. According to police, the victim said he had been walking with two friends close to the park when a large group approached them. A 17-year-old Patterson boy, who police said is a leader of the Runners, challenged the 15-year-old to a fight because of an argument between the 15-year-old and the 17-year-old’s cousin. The younger boy agreed and headed to the park. Police said the 15-year-old is known to associate with Norteño gang members. When they got to the park, close to 20 Runners jumped the boy. “Other guys were there in carloads,” Meraz said. “They all took turns (attacking him.)” The 15-year-old’s friends were pushed aside and did not report any serious injuries. A day later, when the 15-year-old identified the two attackers he recognized, police made arrests. They found the 17-year-old at his high school. Meraz said he had cited and lectured the teen for trying to start a fight with a Norteño gang member the day before the assault. A few days later, they found a 15-year-old suspect. Both boys were arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon with a gang enhancement. A gang enhancement applies when a person documented as a gang member commits a felony. That charge could mean additional jail time if the person is found guilty. Because the boys are in the juvenile courts, the status of their cases is not available. According to police, the 17-year-old gave a different account of the fight. He said that he and his friends had been the ones jumped by about 10 people, police reports say. The 17-year-old did not have any visible injuries, police said. Police arrested another member of the Runners, Jose Castillon, 22, of Patterson, on Sept. 18 on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after he allegedly hit a teen in the head with a golf club, causing minor injuries. Castillon pleaded guilty to a lesser felony charge of assault with the intent to cause great bodily harm Oct. 29, according to a representative with the Stanislaus County district attorney’s office. He has been sentenced to 300 days in county jail and three years probation. The arrest in that case was also aided by a victim, who police believe is associated with the Norteños. Police suspect a gang brawl that broke out at Patterson High School the day after the golf club assault was an intimidation tactic to keep witnesses quiet. The brawl led to a nearly three-hour lockdown of the school. To reach John Saiz at the Irrigator, call 892-6187 or e-mail him at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
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