Mendocino County Man Arrested for Allegedly Battering Elderly People, Cars with Rocks at Public Park
POINT ARENA, Mendocino County — A 27-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly assaulting two elderly individuals with rocks at the Point Arena City Park on Sunday, March 5.
The incident took place near the public bathrooms, where the man was causing a disturbance while heavily intoxicated, the county Sheriff’s Office said in a press release.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to the park just after 2 PM after receiving a report of a seemingly intoxicated person causing a disturbance. As they were responding, the deputies received additional information that the suspect had started throwing rocks at people in the park. They soon also learned that fire and medical personnel had been dispatched to the area for a person with a traumatic head injury.
Upon arriving at the park, deputies found the suspect, identified as Alejandro Ortiz, standing in the parking lot next to the bathrooms, yelling at someone while holding a large rock. The deputies were able to quickly disarm and detain Ortiz, who was then placed in the back of a patrol vehicle.
Deputies discovered that several large rocks were scattered throughout the parking lot, and two vehicles had sustained damage from being struck by the rocks. Further investigation led deputies to discover that Ortiz had allegedly thrown rocks at two elderly individuals before they arrived on scene.
One victim, a 67-year-old man, had reportedly been struck in the head by a rock and had to be transported to Adventist Health Mendocino Coast Emergency Room for medical treatment.
The other victim, a 66-year-old man, had been struck multiple times by rocks thrown by Ortiz, resulting in visible injuries to his arm, knees, and back. The victim declined medical treatment, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Based on the results of the investigation, Ortiz was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, battery causing serious bodily injury, and felony vandalism. He was booked into the Mendocino County Jail on $30,000 bond.
The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office urges residents to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement immediately and to always prioritize their personal safety when in public places. Anyone with additional information about this incident is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at (707) 463-4086.
