Brawl Leads to Felony Arrest

Santa Barbara police officers arrested 27-year-old Jorge Gonzalez this weekend for allegedly punching and kicking 24-year-old Crespin Salgado during a fight near the SOhO nightclub.

According to a police spokesperson, Gonzalez and three friends were involved in an altercation during a Saturday-night concert at the venue. Shortly thereafter, Gonzalez reportedly approached an intoxicated Salgado in the breezeway outside the nightclub and, after angrily speaking to him, began punching Salgado repeatedly.

“Salgado held his hands up to protect his face and backed away,” said a police spokesperson in a prepared statement; “however, he was then pushed by Gonzalez, which caused him to fall backward, strike his head on the ground, and lose consciousness. Gonzalez continued the attack by repeatedly kicking the unconscious victim on his head and face.” A crowd of onlookers then tried to intervene, witnesses told police, but Gonzalez allegedly began throwing punches at several of the people.

After tracking down Gonzalez shortly after the incident, police arrested him on charges of felony assault with a deadly weapon. “The weapons in this case were his feet,” explained the spokesperson, “which he used to kick the unconscious victim on the head which could have resulted in great bodily injury.” Gonzalez was booked into County Jail and his bail set at $30,000.