SANTA PAULA : 5 Youths Arrested in July 4 Stabbing
Five Santa Paula youths suspected of stabbing a 19-year-old man at Harding Park during a city fireworks display were arrested Thursday, police said.
The youths, whose names were not released because of their ages, were taken to Ventura County Juvenile Hall after being charged with assault with a deadly weapon, Santa Paula Police Cmdr. Robert S. Gonzalez said in a statement.
In the same incident, Ofelia Abel, 37, of Santa Paula, was arrested and charged with battery on a police officer and interference with the duties of a police officer, Gonzalez said.
Abel was later released from Ventura County Jail after posting bail, a jail spokesman said.
The arrests came after an investigation into the Fourth of July incident, which took place shortly after the city’s fireworks show began at the East Harvard Boulevard park about 9:15 p.m.
The victim, Jerry Hernandez of Santa Paula, told police he was stabbed while watching the fireworks display.
Santa Paula and Ventura police officers searched the suspects’ homes to determine whether the youths were gang members, Gonzalez said in the press release. The release did not say if the suspects were gang members; Gonzalez was unavailable for comment.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
