Three County Residents Arrested in Gang-Related Attack in Santa Cruz

Three alleged gang members attacked a man in a restaurant parking lot on the 1100 block of Soquel Avenue on Friday night, Santa Cruz police reported.

The initial 911 call—around 10:45 p.m.—stated that there had been a stabbing, but the victim managed to avoid being injured by the knife, police said.

According to the police, the victim was in his car when Watsonville residents Ruben Alonzo Trevino-Garcia, 21, and Anthony Isidro Guido, 23, approached him. The suspects reached into the victim’s open car window and allegedly punched him several times.

The Watsonville gang members yelled gang slurs at the victim while they attacked him, police said. Guido also brandished a knife at the victim but didn't stab the man.

The police searched the area for possible suspects and found their car speeding away from the scene. The car, driven by Rjesusita Vega, 18, of Capitola, was pulled over at Catalpa Street and Melrose Avenue, police said.

Vega, Guido and Trevino-Garcia were in the car. The victim identified them as his attackers, police reported.

Guido and Trevino-Garcia have ties to a Watsonville-based Norteno gang, the police said. Guido was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and participating in a criminal street gang. Trevino-Garcia was arrested on suspicion of battery and participating in a criminal street gang.

Vega allegedly gave police a fake name. Also, officers discovered a knife and marijuana in the car, police reported. Vega was arrested on suspicion of accessory to a crime, providing false identification and possession of marijuana in a vehicle.