Felony Assault Charged in Attack on Volleyball Team : Violence: Their van was smashed and an athlete’s arm was broken. Two brothers are accused in the Feb. 11 incident.

One of two brothers arrested on suspicion of attacking a van full of volleyball players and breaking one of the athlete’s arms was arraigned Wednesday on felony assault charges.

Edward Delatorre, 18, and his 19-year-old brother Armando Delatorre were arrested Saturday morning at their Santa Ana home, Costa Mesa Police Sgt. Neil Leveratt said.

They were accused of taking part in the Feb. 11 beating of nine volleyball players from Palomar College in San Diego County, police said. The players had stopped in Costa Mesa about 8:30 p.m. on their way home from a tournament in Long Beach.

“They thought Long Beach was too dangerous to eat there so they decided to go to Costa Mesa,” Leveratt said. “That was bad luck on their part.”

At the Burger King restaurant, 3150 Harbor Blvd., the suspects and another youth apparently mistook the volleyball players for rival gang members, Leveratt said.

The three suspects allegedly used a metal crutch and a wooden club to smash in the windows of the van, police said.

Armando Delatorre allegedly broke the arm of Sean Thomas, 18, of San Diego, according to Deputy Dist. Atty. Gary Paer.

On Saturday, officers served search warrants in Santa Ana and Costa Mesa, Leveratt said. In Costa Mesa, they arrested Tony Henriquez, 20, on suspicion of being the third accomplice in the attack.

Henriquez was later released for lack of evidence, Paer said.

The younger Delatorre pleaded not guilty Wednesday to four felony assault charges, and his preliminary hearing was scheduled for March 7, Paer said. Armando Delatorre was scheduled to be arraigned March 21.