Five People Attacked in Evening of Robberies

Five men were attacked Sunday evening in what police believe was a series of strong-arm robberies across the city.

In the first reported incident, a man walking near Ash and Buena Vista streets about 7:30 p.m. was pushed and stabbed by two Latino men in their 20s, who had jumped from a dark-colored, four-door car and demanded money, police said.

The victim was stabbed with either a knife or a screwdriver in the arm, shoulder blade and leg, but nothing was taken during the attack, said Police Lt. Douglas Auldridge.

The man was taken to Ventura County Medical Center, where police said he was in fair condition.

A short time later, a second man walking near Santa Clara and Laurel streets reported that two young Latino men with medium builds got out of a dark-colored vehicle and asked him for money.

The robbers then kicked and hit the man with a heavy object and took his wallet. He was taken to the same hospital, where he is being treated for a large bruise to his head, Auldridge said.

The third victim had just purchased a beer from a service station at the corner of Mills and Telegraph roads when two young Latino men asked him for money and then hit and knocked him to the ground. The robbers took the man’s beer and fled in a dark-colored vehicle carrying four to six other Latino men, police said.

The victim was being treated at the medical center.

A fourth man was attacked outside his car in the 600 block of Cedar Street and stabbed with a sharp object. And shortly after 9 p.m., a couple leaving the Century 16 Theaters on Johnson Road were approached by a group of young men who demanded money and hit and knocked the man to the ground.

The robbers fled with his wallet and his girlfriend’s purse.

Late Sunday, police reported detaining a group of men who matched the suspects’ description. No other information was available.