DANA POINT : 5 Held in Beating of Homeless Man

Sheriff’s deputies arrested four men and a 17-year-old boy in connection with the beating of a homeless man at Dana Point Harbor, authorities said Thursday.

Tony Hernandez, 28, described as a transient by a Sheriff’s Department spokesman, was treated for cuts and bruises by paramedics at the scene and later released.

Arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon were Alfredo Garcia, 19; Arturo Villalobos, 18; Juan Solis, 19; Balfred Brito, 18, and the 17-year-old boy. All five live in San Clemente.

“They haven’t said anything to us yet,” Sheriff’s Lt. Dick Olson said. “But our feeling is that they are gang members who suspected the victim of being a member of a rival gang.”

A sheriff’s patrol was driving by the intersection of Dana Harbor Drive and Street of the Golden Lantern about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday when they saw Hernandez being beaten, Olson said.

The suspects saw the deputies, jumped into a car and sped away, Olson said. Deputies stopped the car after a short chase and arrested the men without incident.

The 17-year-old boy was being held in Juvenile Hall. The other four suspects were taken to Orange County Jail in Santa Ana.