Three Teens Arrested After Assault and Attempted Car Theft

Three teens were arrested in Watsonville Saturday for allegedly assaulting a man and attempting to steal his car, police said.

Police got a report around 1:10 a.m. Saturday of a physical fight near 54 Union Street.

Arriving officers located the victim, a 40-year-old Watsonville man, bleeding heavily and suffering from multiple lacerations to his head, police said. Emergency responders treated the victim at the scene.

Police learned that two females and a male had attacked the man and tried to steal his car.

A Watsonville police officer searching the area for the suspects located three people who matched the suspects' descriptions.

Officers detained the three individuals, two 16-year-old juveniles and 18-year-old Jaime Salas, who were identified as the attackers a short time later, police said.

Police said the suspects, who are each Watsonville residents, were found to be in possession of a stick with blood on it and the victim's watch.

Officers also determined that one or more of the teens belong to a criminal street gang.

Police took Salas to Santa Cruz County Jail and the two juveniles to Juvenile Hall.