another attack
http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/article/20070627/NEWS/706270325&SearchID=73285447198727
3rd attack over color red
15-year-old hit after refusing to take off 49ers hat; police say SR crackdown driving gangs south
By PAUL PAYNE
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
A 15-year-old Petaluma boy was beaten by suspected gang members for wearing a red San Francisco 49ers hat, Petaluma's third such attack over gang colors in as many months, police said Tuesday.
The latest incident happened on East Washington Street near Water Street, where the teenager was walking with friends, Petaluma Police Sgt. Tara Salizzoni said.
The victim, who is not a gang member, was beaten by three male suspects after he refused to take off the hat, Salizzoni said.
The attack late Monday night follows last month's beating of two Petaluma Staples store employees who were wearing red uniforms. In April, a 12-year-old boy was hit on the head with a skateboard after refusing to remove a red shirt.
"Petaluma has changed," said City Councilman Mike O'Brien, a former highway patrolman who has been vocal in support of increased police spending as a solution. "It's not the nice, safe town it used to be."
Police rejected the notion that the attacks signal a trend in the city.
Police Chief Steve Hood said similar incidents involving colors may be going unreported in other cities, making the number of attacks in Petaluma seem high.
He also said a gang crackdown in Santa Rosa has driven norteños, one predominant local faction, south onto the turf of the other faction, the sureños, fueling tension between the rival groups.
Red is claimed by norteño gang members, blue by sureños. Police believe sureños are responding to a growing presence of their rivals with a show of force over colors.
"You have them mixing more often in town, partly because of the interdiction efforts up north," Hood said.
The victim in Monday's attack was walking near downtown with three friends about 10:30 p.m., Salizzoni said.
The group was approached by three males who asked the teen if he "banged," or was a member of a gang, she said.
When the teen said no, they asked him for the hat, Salizzoni said.
He refused and was beaten on the face and head, Salizzoni said.
During the fight, the 49ers hat fell to the ground. The suspects picked it up and ran, she said.
The teen was taken to Petaluma Valley Hospital and treated for his injuries. The injuries were relatively minor, Police Capt. Dan Fish said.
The identities of the suspects are unknown.
All three were described as being 5 feet 4 inches to 5 feet 7 inches tall and 140 pounds to 160 pounds. Two had shaved heads, and the third had short hair worn slicked back. No other details of their descriptions were released.
"The flavor of this incident appears to be that they are either gang members or making the appearance of being gang members," Fish said.
Youth advocates said the attacks speak to the proliferation of gangs in Petaluma.
Ron Kirtley, executive director of Petaluma People Services, said he expects gang-related crime to rise up to 30 percent over the next year, in part because of the crackdown in Santa Rosa but also because of a reduction in gang prevention spending in Petaluma.
At the same time, he said, new development such as a theater in downtown Petaluma is drawing young people from across the county, especially at night.
Kirtley said most people should have little to fear about wearing red clothing.
Non-gang members are more likely to be confronted if they are 14 to 23 years old and live in certain neighborhoods, he said.
He stopped short of labeling the three recent attacks a trend but said the situation should be watched.
"Three incidents in a short period of time certainly raises a flag," Kirtley said.
Police made arrests in the two previous attacks.
Two 17-year-olds are in custody for the May 25 incident near the Staples store on South McDowell Boulevard.
Gabriella Garcia Estrada and Reyes Mendoza Jr. are accused of yelling gang slogans while assaulting a Staples employee who was standing outside the store. Police said they attacked another employee who came to the first victim's assistance.
A 16-year-old reputed gang member is accused of hitting a 12-year-old over the head April 3 at the Petaluma Skate Park.
Police said the attack happened when the younger boy was ordered to remove a red shirt and refused.
You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 762-7297 or
[email protected].
