2 Teenagers Held in Attack on Motorist

Two gang members were arrested Tuesday afternoon on suspicion of using a wooden club to smash out the windows of a car and to beat a man in east Ventura, police said.

Ventura residents Christopher Junkin and Phillip Vasquez, both 18, were arrested about 1:30 p.m. after a probation officer and residents driving in the area spotted the incident at Loma Vista Road and Victoria Avenue.

Brian Kyte, 18, was driving on Wake Forest Avenue at Telegraph Road when two men in a car began chasing him toward Loma Vista Road. The men crashed into Kyte’s car and forced him to stop, Ventura Police Sgt. Larry White said.

Kyte’s assailants smashed out his car windows and attacked him with the club and their fists. Kyte suffered cuts on his head, face, arms and hands but did not require hospitalization, White said.

Junkin and Vasquez said the assault was retaliation for an alleged attack by Kyte on one of Junkin’s friends about six months ago, White said. Officers said Kyte is not a gang member.

Junkin and Vasquez remained jailed Tuesday night on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, vandalism and possession of a billy club. Junkin also was being held on suspicion of making a terrorist threat for reportedly facing Kyte and making a cutting motion across his neck, White said.

Junkin was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail and Vasquez’s bail was set at $20,000.