Anaheim : 4 Injured, 3 Arrested in Soccer Game Melee

Four people were hospitalized and two men and a boy were arrested Sunday after a soccer match with 200 spectators erupted into a melee when a referee was hit on the head with a bottle, police said Sunday.

Three people, including two players from an adult soccer league, were stabbed with knives after an angry spectator threw the bottle about 4:35 p.m. at South Junior High School, Lt. Jack Para said. The referee was not identified.

“For some unknown reason, the referee had called the game early when he was struck on the head with a bottle,” Para said.

When the assailant charged the referee, several people came to the official’s aid, Para said. This brought other spectators onto the playing field and the fight started.

“By the time police arrived, we had people lying all over the place,” Para said.

Jose Luna, 41, of Anaheim, was arrested and booked at UCI Medical Center Jail Ward on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon. Luna received a stab wound, Para said.

Telemaco Gonzales, 23, of Santa Ana, was booked into Anaheim City Jail on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon.

Bail for both was $10,000.

A 16-year-old juvenile from Santa Ana who was suspected of assault with a deadly weapon was arrested and taken to Juvenile Hall, Para said.

The victims included Rodolfo Tapa, 23, of Santa Ana, who was treated for head injuries by paramedics and released, and three men taken to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana: Antonio Alvarez, 35, of Anaheim, who had head injuries; Jesus Vega, 18, of Anaheim, stab wound, and Juan Valencia, 28, of Anaheim, two stab wounds.